It's Crunch Time: Müller's Bayern Future Uncertain as Club World Cup Kicks Off
The Inquiry Surrounding Thomas Müller
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Thomas Müller, Bayern Munich legend and hero, faces an uncertain future as the Club World Cup heats up.
After sweltering through the group stage in Charlotte, Müller finds himself in the bowels of the "Bank of America Stadium." The 35-year-old is sporting a days-old beard and, uncharacteristically, finds himself grappling with the thought of his potential final game in the FC Bayern jersey.
The question catches him off guard: Is he mentally prepared for every game at the Club World Cup to be his last with the storied German club? Müller hesitates but eventually concedes: "Yes, I've known that for a while." But he brushes aside the topic with a spirit echoing his hard-fought games on the pitch, "Playing is still fun. Giving everything is fun. And when it's over, it's over!"
The Countdown Begins
Football "Where are we now? Change the record, it's Dortmund," jabs Müller against critics.It's a matter of days before the Bayern face Flamengo Rio de Janeiro in Miami in the round of 16. Will this be Müller's swan song? The native Bavarian is pragmatic, brushing aside negative premonitions: "These win-or-go-home games are always tense. You're sitting on your packed suitcase a bit. But I'm convinced that we'll still be here for some time."
The 13th of July, the World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New York, remains the ultimate destination for the legend. A Bayern farewell match on a truly big stage. "The tournament is now picking up speed," says Müller. And Flamengo shouldn't mark the final stop in his storied career. His 250th goal for Bayern, a spectacular screamer against Auckland City, should not be his last.
No Time for Sentimentality
Even his teammates, especially long-serving ones like Leon Goretzka, aren't ready to contemplemplate a FC Bayern without Müller just yet. "I think we'll be sentimental soon enough," said the national player in Charlotte. The friends are spending their spare time in Orlando playing golf.
Müller knows he'll be missed. The club, the team, the fans, and the media. Will the 35-year-old stay in the states after the World Cup?
LA and TV Expert at the 2026 World Cup?
Rumors are circulating that Müller is eyeing an engagement with Los Angeles FC, the Major League Soccer club with whom Bayern are partners. The club's bosses would be thrilled to have the eloquent Müller representing Bayern in the US market. However, the club with discovery rights to Müller, FC Cincinnati, may have some say in the matter. The Ohio club has an exclusive negotiating right, which an MLS team can purchase for a player who wants to join the league.
Those who catch a glimpse of Müller running across the pitch in Cincinnati, Miami, or Charlotte, even in the scorching heat, can feel the joy he still has for the game. A soccer year in L.A. could help him ease his forced detachment from FC Bayern. It could also be good preparation for the real World Cup of national teams next year in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
In the scene, it's whispered that the eloquent Müller will then work as an expert for a German TV station. That would certainly be a win for the viewers.
The Present: Flamengo and Unfinished Business
Müller is likely to be on the bench in Miami, warming up like he did against Boca Juniors when he watched the 2:1 from a cooling box. Müller won't get a farewell tour bonus. "We have a lot of competition up front," said the coach. Müller is cool about it. "The stadium should be well filled. Many Brazilian fans will create an atmosphere. And such football festivals are what we wish for now," he says.
But nobody, not even the legendary Müller, can predict what the future holds.
The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, along with the European Parliament, are expressing their support for Thomas Müller and FC Bayern Munich as the Club World Cup commences.
As the debate on the benefits of football, particularly the Champions League and European leagues, unfolds on the parliamentary floor, Müller's potential final game in the FC Bayern jersey is a topic that stirs interest among European lawmakers.
