Germany World Cup 2026 squad preview: Players to watch, squad and squad list | World Cup 2026 news

Back in the day the World Cup looked like this: 20
Best practice: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
First appearance: 1934 (Italy)
Top scorer: Miroslav Klose (16)
Most visible: Lothar Matthaus (25)
Player to watch: Florian Wirtz
FIFA World Cup: 8

Germany wants to do better World Cup after two spectacular failures – they were released from the groups in 2018 and 2022.

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He looks good under coach Julian Nagelsmann. Germany had a successful World Cup qualifying campaign with five wins from six matches.

The team combines the young talents of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz with those of Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger and veteran players. Manuel Neuerwho surprised many by retiring from international sports.

However, if the whole team has enough skills to pose a serious threat to the favorites and if all the pieces really fit together under the pressure of the competition remains to be seen.

A hoodoo group

Gary Lineker said: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase the ball for 90 minutes, and in the end, the Germans always win.”

So failure in the last two games was impossible for the top four.

In 2018, they fell after losing to South Korea. In 2022, they were defeated by Japan on the way to elimination from the differences.

Nagelsmann took office in September 2023 and has restored national pride.

Germany looked good as a host nation for Euro 2024 and were perhaps unlucky to lose to Spain in the quarterfinals. The mood around the team seems to be optimistic, and they hope to get deep into the competition.

Gifted youth

At the heart of Germany’s ambitions are gifted youngsters in Musiala, Wirtz and Lennart Karl.

Musiala, 23, was the standout performer at Euro 2024 and gives the team a creative edge.

However, he suffered a serious injury during Bayern Munich’s FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in July, breaking his leg and breaking his leg in a collision with then-PSG player Gianluigi Donnarumma.

He has been recovering from an injury and has not played as well as expected in recent weeks, mostly from the bench. The German hopes he can regain fitness and form ahead of the month-long tournament, which starts on June 11.

Wirtz, meanwhile, endured a difficult season after a big-money move to Liverpool. After failing to register a goal or assist in the first few months of the season, he seems to have found his feet in the Premier League and is looking like his old self.

He gives Germany flexibility up front, and wherever he plays, Wirtz can pick apart any defense.

Karl is another exciting prospect. Bayern’s 18-year-old attacker, who can play on the wing or in midfield, has exploded this year.

He was Bayern’s lowest scorer in the UEFA Champions League and third in the Bundesliga after scoring against Club Brugge and Borussia Monchengladbach. He has also drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi for his swing and low gravity.

The return of Neuer

The 40-year-old was surprisingly included in Nagelsmann’s 26-man World Cup squad.

Neuer retired from international football after Euro 2024, but the Bayern keeper is now set to make his fifth World Cup appearance with Nagelsmann claiming he is first choice ahead of Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel.

“Everyone knows Manu’s aura and quality, what he brings to the team,” Nagelsmann said in announcing the team.

“He cares about his team, the opposition and can create special moments.”

Kimmich remains the captain despite the return of Neuer, the former Germany captain.

Tough questions for Nagelsmann

A number of players seem in danger of starting – I think Leon Goretzka along with Aleksandar Pavlovic as a double pivot in midfield with Kimmich at right back.

But other positions are not settled, especially up front, where Germany lacks a world-class striker.

Niclas Fullkrug is the number nine but he did not do anything after a terrible season in front of the goal of AC Milan, winning only once in Serie A. Nick Woltemade of Newcastle made the team despite having a mixed season for his team and he looks good playing as a deep lie.

Kai Havertz can be used as a false nine, but it’s not his natural position. However, the Arsenal star is expected to accept if there are no better options.

Despite the team’s weaknesses, Nagelsmann remains ambitious.

“I have said time and time again that we want to be world champions,” Nagelsmann said as he unveiled the squad.

What does their team look like?

No disrespect to the other teams, but Germany will be sitting on the edge when the Group E draws are made. On paper, they will expect to progress well.

They open their campaign on June 14 against Curacao, the youngest country to ever reach the World Cup.

Their second game on June 20 against the Ivory Coast should provide a stern test because the Ivory Coast, who are returning to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years, are a dangerous side and boast the likes of Amad Diallo.

The group’s final match is on June 25 against Ecuador, which finished second in the tournament ahead of Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. It’s a well-coached, well-rounded team that has conceded just five goals in 18 qualifying games and could prove difficult for Germany to topple.

However, Germany will fully expect to be in the World Cup for the first time since 2014 when they lifted the trophy.

The game of the German team

⚽ June 14: Germany vs Curacao (Houston, Texas, United States), noon (17:00 GMT)
⚽ June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast (Toronto, Canada), 4pm (20:00 GMT)
⚽ June 25: Ecuador vs Germany (East Rutherford, New Jersey, US), 4pm (20:00 GMT)

Germany’s World Cup team

Scorers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)

Protectors:Joshua Kimmich (captain, Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United)

Middle players: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Namas Dominis), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Namas Dominis), (Brighton and Hove Albion)

Players: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund)