# Club Lines and National Ranks: How Germany’s Squads Are Built for Ottawa

**By Jordan Wells**  \nPublished September 20, 2026  \nUpdated September 20, 2026

> With the IWBF World Championship underway in Ottawa, the distinct pipelines powering Germany’s men’s and women’s national teams showcase both Bundesliga continuity and global talent.

When the IWBF World Championship tipped off in Ottawa, Canada, the roster announcements for Team Germany offered a detailed view of how domestic club structures fuel international ambitions. Rather than a singular national pipeline, the German presence in Ottawa represents two distinct national teams—the men’s and women’s squads—each built around specific tactical needs, classification balancing, and talent hubs centered on Bundesliga programs like Hannover United and RSV Lahn-Dill.

## The Men’s Squad: Youth Integration and Coaching Continuity

Germany’s men’s team enters Ottawa under the guidance of head coach Jan Haller and assistant coach Martin Kluck, bringing a heavy infusion of tactical familiarity from Hannover United. The centerpiece of this developmental push is 4.5-point player Jakob Krömer. A former U23 World Champion, Krömer’s rapid rise through Hannover’s youth ranks into Kluck’s primary Bundesliga rotation earned him a spot on the senior World Championship roster.

Krömer’s high-point scoring and physical presence inside the key are flanked by ex-Hannover talents Tobias Hell and Alexander Budde, giving Haller’s bench a cohesive core accustomed to high-tempo pressing and rapid ball movement. The men’s campaign faced an immediate administrative shift on opening day, September 9, when the withdrawal of the Iranian national team cancelled Germany’s scheduled tournament opener and forced an early adjustment to their group-stage rhythm.

## The Women’s Roster: Classification Balance and Tactical Roles

Operating on a completely separate track, the German women’s national team, led by head coach Josef Jaglowski, relies on a carefully calibrated mix of low-point stability and high-point firepower. The women’s court dynamics depend heavily on 1.0-point specialist Catharina Weiß, an experienced anchor playing in her third World Championship. Weiß provides the essential screening, defensive positioning, and classification capacity that allow high-point teammates to operate freely.

Among those benefiting from that structure is 4.0-point player Leyla Stähler, who earned her selection for her first major international championship following strong performances during the repechage tournament. On the court, the synergy between Weiß’s low-point blocking and Stähler’s perimeter scoring gives the women’s team a distinct tactical identity that operates entirely independent of the men’s lineup.

## The Global Reach of the Bundesliga: Clarifying Tomas Klein’s Role

While Bundesliga clubs serve as the primary training ground for German national teamers, they also attract top-tier international talent. Australian national team player Tomas Klein illustrates this dynamic. The 3.0-point player has built an impressive European resume, including a 2024 German championship alongside Weiß while at RSV Lahn-Dill, as well as a Commonwealth Games 3x3 gold medal with Australia.

Klein’s recent transfer to Hannover United places him under Kluck’s direction for the domestic season, where his speed and pick-and-roll versatility will complement United’s lineups. However, Klein remains firmly embedded in Australia’s national program as he works toward selection for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics. His presence in Hannover highlights the strength of the German league as an international incubator, even as the German men’s and women’s national teams pursue their own separate podium paths in Ottawa.

## Sources

- [rsvlahndill-ev.de](https://www.rsvlahndill-ev.de/) — original
- [hannover-united.de](https://www.hannover-united.de/) — original
- [rsvlahndill.de](https://rsvlahndill.de/spieler/) — original