Kompany and Musiala React to Oliver Kahn’s World Cup Remarks

Bayern Munich winger Jamal Musiala and head coach Vincent Kompany have rejected suggestions from former club CEO Oliver Kahn that the 23-year-old should withdraw from the 2026 World Cup.

The debate emerged following concerns regarding Musiala’s fitness and form after he returned from a serious injury sustained during the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025. Kahn advised the player to skip the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to prioritize his health and avoid further injury.

Kompany Dismisses Kahn’s Advice

Vincent Kompany reacted with amusement to Kahn’s recommendation. The Bayern Munich manager suggested that Kahn’s own competitive nature would have contradicted the advice he gave to Musiala.

He would have flown to the World Cup with a broken arm and a broken foot

Vincent Kompany

Kompany stressed that while Musiala is not yet at his peak performance, his progress is normal and steady.

Musiala Reaffirms World Cup Ambitions

Speaking after a match on April 11, 2026, Musiala denied that skipping the tournament was an option. Although he stated he had not read exactly what [Kahn] said, he was clear about his intentions for the summer.

I definitely want to go to the World Cup. My aim is to help the team as much as possible until the end of the season, then to do the same for the national team.

Jamal Musiala

Musiala noted that he feels significantly better than he did in March 2026 and is focused on helping Bayern Munich win its current competitions before joining the German national team.

Strong Performance Against St. Pauli

The discussion regarding Musiala’s fitness coincided with his return to the starting lineup for Bayern Munich’s 5-0 victory over FC St. Pauli on April 11, 2026. Musiala delivered what has been described as his best performance since returning to action at the start of 2026.

During the match, Musiala contributed several key elements to the win:

• He scored the opening goal with an early header.
• He provided an assist for a goal scored by Nicolas Jackson in the second half.
• He hit the woodwork with a shot and made multiple telling contributions throughout the game.

Musiala expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that he is getting more involved in the action and that every minute of game time is beneficial for his recovery.

Support from Team Leadership

Germany captain and Bayern teammate Joshua Kimmich also voiced support for Musiala. Kimmich observed that when Musiala trains regularly and receives game time, he consistently scores or creates chances.

Kimmich acknowledged that while Musiala is still building his match fitness, his mindset has shifted and he has become more positive during his recovery process.