Manuel Neuer is 40 years old and Germany's number one goalkeeper again. He retired from international football after Euro 2024, then made nine saves against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals and the question answered itself. Julian Nagelsmann called him. He said yes. Florian Wirtz signed for Liverpool in June 2025 for over £100 million — the most expensive German player in history — and arrived at his first World Cup as the nation's creative heartbeat. Jamal Musiala spent 196 days recovering from a broken leg sustained against PSG and is timing his return to form for exactly this moment. Niclas Füllkrug, the man who bailed Germany out repeatedly from the bench at Euro 2024, is not in the squad. Two consecutive group-stage exits. One chance to fix it all.
How Germany Qualified — and the Shock That Made Them
Germany were drawn into UEFA Group A alongside Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. The campaign began with a humiliation: a 2-0 defeat in Bratislava against Slovakia in September 2025 — a result that immediately renewed questions about whether the 2024 Euro momentum had already faded. The reaction told a different story. Germany won their next five qualifiers without conceding more than one goal, culminating in a 6-0 demolition of Slovakia in Leipzig in November 2025 that settled the revenge account and booked the ticket to North America.
The final record read five wins and one defeat, 16 goals scored and only three conceded. Nick Woltemade was a standout, scoring four goals across the campaign. The Euro 2024 context matters too: Germany hosted the tournament, reached the quarter-finals and were eliminated by Spain 2-1 after extra time when Mikel Merino headed in the winner in the 119th minute. A heartbreaking exit, but one that confirmed this generation had the quality to compete with the best teams in the world.
Key Players to Watch
Germany World Cup 2026 Full Squad
The biggest story in the squad is the goalkeeper. Manuel Neuer retired from international football after Euro 2024 and Oliver Baumann was told he was the new number one. Then Neuer produced a nine-save performance for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals and Nagelsmann changed course. At 40, Neuer is the last active member of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning squad. His recall carries enormous symbolic weight. Baumann and Alexander Nübel of Stuttgart provide experienced cover.
The defensive structure centres on the Rüdiger and Tah pairing at centre-back, with Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton of Borussia Dortmund in competition. Captain Kimmich operates at right-back in the national team setup, bringing his midfield intelligence to the defensive line. David Raum continues on the left from RB Leipzig. Malick Thiaw brings Premier League experience from Newcastle. Nathaniel Brown of Eintracht Frankfurt is the youngest defensive inclusion.
The midfield carries Germany's greatest depth. Wirtz is the creative hub, likely operating in the number ten space. Musiala floats across the advanced areas with the freedom Nagelsmann always gives him. Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic from Bayern, Pascal Groß from Brighton and Angelo Stiller of Stuttgart provide options in deeper and more physical roles. Nadiem Amiri of Mainz brings technical quality off the bench. Felix Nmecha, Jamie Leweling and the 18-year-old Lennart Karl — a Bayern Munich breakthrough talent — complete a midfield unit with genuine depth at every level.
Kai Havertz leads the attack from Arsenal. Leroy Sané, who left Bayern on a free transfer in June 2025 and joined Galatasaray, adds wide pace as an experienced option. Deniz Undav and Maximilian Beier of Stuttgart and Dortmund respectively provide goal threat from the bench. Nick Woltemade, who joined Newcastle and then scored four goals in qualifying, completes the forward line. Notably absent is Niclas Füllkrug — Germany's beloved super-sub from Euro 2024 who scored crucial goals from the bench throughout the tournament — cut after a difficult loan spell at AC Milan that produced only one goal in 19 Serie A appearances. Serge Gnabry is also absent through injury, a partial adductor muscle tear ending his World Cup dream and marking the third consecutive major tournament he has missed through injury.
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Group E — Germany vs Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire and Ecuador
Germany open Group E against Curaçao in Houston on 14 June, the clearest opportunity for goals and rhythm at the start of the tournament. The second group game brings a genuine test: Côte d'Ivoire in Toronto on 20 June. The Ivory Coast squad, built around players like Franck Kessié and Simon Adingra, is the strongest opponent in the group and capable of making things difficult. The third game is Ecuador at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 25 June — a CONMEBOL team with energy and organisation but manageable quality for a German side operating at full strength.
Germany are clear favourites to top Group E. Nagelsmann will demand nine points. The true examination begins in the round of 32.
World Cup History
One to Watch — Florian Wirtz
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