DFB "disappointed:" Tillman to play for the USMNT - "We are surprised"

Bayern Munich talent Malik Tillman will no longer play for Germany. The 19-year-old forward was not nominated for Germany's U21 squad for the European Championship qualification games against Hungary (Jun. 3) and Poland (Jun. 7). Head coach Antonio Di Salvo confirmed that Tillman wants to play for the United States.

"We are surprised and disappointed by Malik's decision," Di Salvo said to the German magazine kicker. "Despite being a younger player, we developed him in our U21 have trusted him and provided him with playing time. We were also in direct contact about his perspective including playing for the senior national team." 

Born in Nuremberg, Malik Tillman is the brother of Fürth's Timothy and has already played two games for the United States at the U15 level before switching to the Deutsche Fußball Bund (DFB) where he played at all levels including four games for the U21. The United States together with Canada and Mexico are hosts of the 2026 World Cup.