Lili Engels is a new face in sports journalism – and will be there first-hand at the 2026 World Cup. We’ll tell you how the likeable woman from Hamburg achieved success – at just 29 years old. One thing is clear: behind their success is a lot of expertise, discipline and a real passion for the sport.
Sport in the blood and in the lecture hall
Lili Engels was born in Hamburg in 1997. After graduating from high school in 2015, the presenter studied sports science and philosophy at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel from 2016 to 2020. During this time she also completed an internship at the Sports Information Service (SID) in Cologne.
Lili Engel’s beginnings in sports journalism
After completing her studies, the Hamburg resident set an impressive pace: At SPORT1, Engels took over the moderation of the Ice Hockey World Cup, EM-Aktuell and other SPORT1 online formats such as 2after10, Transfermarkt show or the World Cup special broadcast.
The big jump to ZDF
Since 2023, Lili Engels has been an integral part of public television. As a presenter of the young football magazine Football field She quickly proved that she speaks the language of the fans. This was followed by assignments as a reporter for the Champions League and the Bundesliga and, from autumn 2024, moderation of the sports section ZDF lunchtime magazine.
Who is Lili Engels’ boyfriend?
But how does sports journalist Lili Engels actually tick privately? It is not officially confirmed whether the presenter has a boyfriend. There is regular speculation on social media about whether Lili Engels has lost her heart away from the camera to someone from the media world or a ZDF colleague. But the moderator sets very clear boundaries here. One thing is certain for her: her private life remains private. Lili Engels often shares lovely snapshots from her life on Instagram.
