The Germany squad announcement is now official, with Julian Nagelsmann including a sensational return for a talismanic figure in German football, two years on from their retirement, and a number of head-turning exclusions.
With the majority of leagues around the world coming to an end, that can only mean one thing – The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner. Set to kick off on June 11th, international managers will have all the data they need to make their decisions and name their final 26-man squads.
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Nagelsmann Turns Heads with Germany Squad Announcement
Sensational Return for Germany Legend
Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, is set to return to international football, two years after retiring. After an unsuccessful European Championship campaign in 2024, Neuer hung up his gloves to focus on club football; however, it was announced that he will be dusting off the gloves for one last tournament at age 40.
Neuer will be taking part in his fifth World Cup, first competing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and most famously, playing a prominent role in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory, where he kept a clean sheet in the final against Argentina.
There is also a surprise call-up for former Manchester City man Leroy Sane. The winger has been playing for Galatasaray this season, notching seven goals in 28 league games; however, his form for the international side has been inconsistent over the years.
Surprise Absentees
Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi has missed out on Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad after a lacklustre season. The former Bayern Munich man has scored just six league goals this season.
Leeds United’s Anton Stach was included in the recent March internationals; however, he won’t be on the plane to the United States.
Entertaining winger Chris Fuhrich, who plays his club football for Stuttgart, is an interesting player to leave out. He could have come off the bench and made a difference and offered the team a different look from the bench; however, it will be left to Leroy Sane to do that.
Serge Gnabry’s season-ending injury suffered in the Champions League forced Nagelsmann’s hand in leaving him at home.
The Germans will play two warm-up games before kicking off their campaign against Curacao in Houston on June 14th.
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Germany Squad Announcement – World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nubel
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown, Joshua Kimmich (captain), David Raum, Antonio Rudiger (vice-captain), Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Malick Thiaw
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri, Leon Goretzka, Pascal Gross, Jamie Leweling, Lennart Karl, Jamal Musiala, Felix Nmecha, Alexander Pavlovic, Angelo Stiller, Florian Wirtz
Forwards: Maximilian Beier, Kai Havertz, Leroy Sane, Denis Undav, Nick Woltemade
Featured image courtesy of IMAGO / Schüler
