Bayern Munich and Germany defender Jonathan Tah on his long route to the FIFA World Cup
Bayern Munich and Germany defender Jonathan Tah has spoken to the DFB's Journal magazine about his long route to the FIFA World Cup and his family links to upcoming Group E opponents Côte d'Ivoire.
While winning his second Bundesliga title in his first season at Bayern made Tah a natural choice for Julian Nagelsmann's World Cup squad, the former Hamburg, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Bayer Leverkusen centre-back is set to make his first appearance at the showpiece tournament at the relatively advanced age of 30 – a full 10 years after making his international debut against England in a March 2016 friendly.
Despite making 49 competitive appearances under Vincent Kompany in 2025/26 as Bayern also got their hands on the DFB Cup and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, Tah confessed to still having "doubts" he would play at a World Cup after being overlooked for the 2018 and 2022 editions.
"It was important for me to focus on what I could control, and I can't control whether a coach calls me up or takes me to a tournament," he recalled. "However, I can control my own behaviour and, therefore, the performance I bring to the pitch."
Watch: Jonathan Tah in action
Tah's displays across his 499 senior club appearances and 46 internationals to date have earned him top billing as one of his country's most accomplished defenders. It's not been an easy ride, but the 6'5" Hamburg native was always convinced he had the necessary qualities to succeed at the highest level.
"I had to develop further, but I didn't have to change my character. I used to be told that as a defender, I sometimes had to smash people down. That I sometimes had to be a thug. I didn't want to do that, because I'm not. I'm glad I didn't have to be a thug to be here now," Tah explained.
"Whenever I stayed true to myself, I was 100 per cent convinced that this path was the right one for me. That I have what it takes to play football at the highest level. Deep down, I had no doubts."
Tah is expected to partner Borussia Dortmund counterpart Nico Schlotterbeck at the heart of the Germany defence when the four-time World Cup winners begin their 2026 campaign against tournament new boys Curaçao on 14 June.
Six days later, he will have the chance to face his father’s homeland, Côte d’Ivoire, in Toronto, before Germany conclude the group stage against Ecuador on 25 June.
"This connection is important to me. My family roots in the Ivory Coast are simply a part of me and give me something. When I look at where my father comes from, how he came to Germany, and what he had to go through, it has helped me tremendously to put things into perspective," said the Bayern No.4.
"When I go through a difficult period in football, it feels like nothing compared to that."
As for Germany's chances of going deep in the tournament after surprise group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Tah struck a confident note.
"Anything is possible for us. We have a team that, when it gets into its flow, when it gains momentum, can achieve anything," he affirmed.
"There are nations that, on paper, might be a touch stronger than us. I don't believe that names ultimately matter when it comes to winning a tournament. It's much more about cohesion and team spirit."
