Nathaniel Brown, the Germany star who turned down the USMNT

Nathaniel Brown is one of the brightest young talents in the Germany national team and one of the biggest “what ifs” for the United States at World Cup 2026.

Brown’s father is American, making him eligible to represent the USMNT. Instead, he chose Germany, and on June 14 he marked his World Cup debut in style, helping Germany to a 7-1 victory over Curaçao with a goal and an assist while playing 72 minutes.

“It’s incredible to score in my first World Cup match. My family and friends are here. We scored seven goals. Of course, we conceded an unnecessary goal, but I think it helped wake us up,” Brown said after the game.

At just 22 years old, Brown is now living out his dream of playing in a World Cup for Germany. He is also set to join Bayern Munich next season in a transfer reportedly worth €55 million.

It was always Germany for Brown

Despite his American roots, Brown has said he never seriously considered representing the United States.

“For me, it was clear that I only wanted to play for Germany because I was born in Germany and grew up with my mother,” he explained before Germany’s pre-World Cup friendly against the United States.

Brown also told Germany’s Bild newspaper in April that he received a call from the U.S. Soccer Federation but quickly declined the opportunity because his ambition had always been to represent Germany.

One of the key reasons behind that decision is his limited connection to the United States. Brown has previously stated that he does not have contact with his father.

That did not stop U.S. Soccer from trying.

In the end, however, Germany won the race for one of the country’s most promising young players, and Brown immediately showed why. Against Curaçao, he scored Germany’s fifth goal of the afternoon and delivered an assist as Julian Nagelsmann’s side opened its World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion.

For the United States, it was another reminder of what might have been. For Germany, it looked like the arrival of another emerging star.

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