Julian Nagelsmann announced his Germany World Cup 2026 squad on May 21, with one selection dominating every conversation: Manuel Neuer, 40, reversed his 2024 international retirement to compete in his fifth and final World Cup. Joshua Kimmich captains the side, Antonio Rüdiger serves as vice-captain, and Serge Gnabry misses out through injury as the biggest omission from a 26-man group built to win for the first time since 2014.
Germany heads to Group E as FIFA’s 10th-ranked side and a four-time World Cup winner. Seven Bayern Munich players are in the 26-man squad. Florian Wirtz makes his World Cup debut after joining Liverpool, Jamal Musiala returns from a serious injury, and 18-year-old Lennart Karl is the youngest call-up. They qualified as UEFA Group A winners with five wins from six.
This is your full Germany squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Germany 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich | 40 |
| GK | Oliver Baumann | TSG Hoffenheim | 35 |
| GK | Alexander Nübel | VfB Stuttgart | 29 |
| DF | Antonio Rüdiger (VC) | Real Madrid | 33 |
| DF | Jonathan Tah | Bayern Munich | 30 |
| DF | David Raum | RB Leipzig | 28 |
| DF | Nico Schlotterbeck | Borussia Dortmund | 26 |
| DF | Waldemar Anton | Borussia Dortmund | 29 |
| DF | Malick Thiaw | Newcastle United | 24 |
| DF | Nathaniel Brown | Eintracht Frankfurt | 22 |
| DF | Pascal Groß | Brighton & Hove Albion | 34 |
| MF | Joshua Kimmich (C) | Bayern Munich | 31 |
| MF | Felix Nmecha | Borussia Dortmund | 25 |
| MF | Florian Wirtz | Liverpool | 23 |
| MF | Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich | 23 |
| MF | Leon Goretzka | Bayern Munich | 31 |
| MF | Angelo Stiller | VfB Stuttgart | 25 |
| MF | Lennart Karl | Bayern Munich | 18 |
| MF | Nadiem Amiri | 1. FSV Mainz 05 | 29 |
| MF | Aleksandar Pavlović | Bayern Munich | 22 |
| FW | Kai Havertz | Arsenal | 27 |
| FW | Leroy Sané | Galatasaray | 30 |
| FW | Nick Woltemade | Newcastle United | 24 |
| FW | Jamie Leweling | VfB Stuttgart | 25 |
| FW | Deniz Undav | VfB Stuttgart | 29 |
| FW | Maximilian Beier | Borussia Dortmund | 23 |
(C) = captain, (VC) = vice-captain. Squad as confirmed on May 21, 2026.
For all 48 team rosters, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here is a snapshot of the Germany World Cup Squad 2026 by the numbers.
- Average age: 27.5 years
- Most-capped player: Manuel Neuer (124 caps at his 2024 retirement; returned to the squad in 2025)
- Most-capped outfield player: Joshua Kimmich (108 caps)
- Youngest player: Lennart Karl (18)
- Oldest player: Manuel Neuer (40)
- Premier League players: 5 (Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade, Pascal Groß)
- Bayern Munich players: 7 (Neuer, Tah, Kimmich, Goretzka, Musiala, Pavlović, Karl)
- Borussia Dortmund players: 4 (Schlotterbeck, Anton, Nmecha, Beier)
- VfB Stuttgart players: 4 (Nübel, Stiller, Leweling, Undav)
Key Players to Watch
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool): Wirtz arrives at his first World Cup as one of the most gifted attacking midfielders in the game. The 23-year-old joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen and carries the creative load for Nagelsmann’s side. He scored the opening goal of Euro 2024. His club form dipped at Anfield, but he saves his best for Germany.
Joshua Kimmich (C) (Bayern Munich): Kimmich is Germany’s captain and tactical spine. The 31-year-old has earned 108 caps and controls tempo at both ends of the pitch. He scored twice in Germany’s 4-0 home win over Luxembourg in qualifying. Nagelsmann trusts him to marshal the midfield and dictate matches from deep or in a box-to-box role.
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich): Musiala is Germany’s most unpredictable weapon. The 23-year-old returned to club action after a serious injury and went straight back into the national squad. His ability to carry the ball through tight spaces and create from nothing gives Germany an attacking dimension nobody else provides. Watch for him in the half-spaces between midfield and the forwards.
Antonio Rüdiger (VC) (Real Madrid): Rüdiger is Germany’s defensive anchor and vice-captain. The 33-year-old Real Madrid centre-back brings Champions League-winning experience and an aggressive, dominant style at the back. He missed qualifying time through injury but forced his way into the final 26. Germany’s defence conceded just three goals across the six qualifying matches.
Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United): Woltemade is a powerful centre-forward who scored multiple goals in the qualifying run, including key contributions in the 6-0 rout of Slovakia. His form at Newcastle was mixed in his debut season, but his performances for Germany have been consistently direct and impactful. He’s the first-choice target man when Nagelsmann wants to play through a physical focal point.
Germany World Cup 2026 Schedule
Germany plays all three group stage matches across the United States and Canada. Local kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Central European Summer Time (CEST) for fans at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (CEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2026 | Curaçao | Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Houston | 1:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| June 20, 2026 | Ivory Coast | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto | 4:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| June 25, 2026 | Ecuador | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford | 4:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
Germany played a pre-tournament friendly against Finland at the MEWA Arena in Mainz on May 31. They then travel to the United States for a final warm-up against the host nation, USA, at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6. All group stage kick-off times follow the official FIFA match schedule, with group positions confirmed from the December 5, 2025 draw.
How Germany Qualified for World Cup 2026
Germany qualified through UEFA Group A, a four-team round-robin against Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg from September to November 2025. They opened with a shock 2-0 defeat in Bratislava on September 4. It was the only defeat of the campaign. Germany responded with four straight wins: 3-1 vs Northern Ireland at home, 4-0 vs Luxembourg at home, 1-0 in Belfast, and 2-0 in Luxembourg City.
Going into the final matchday on November 17, Germany and Slovakia were level on 12 points. Germany didn’t settle for the draw they needed. At Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, they beat Slovakia 6-0 to seal first place. Nick Woltemade scored in the rout. Germany finished the group with 15 points from 18, scoring 16 goals and conceding just three.
Head Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann is 38 years old and one of the most talked-about coaches in world football. He became the youngest manager in Bundesliga history when he took charge of TSG Hoffenheim at 28. He went on to manage RB Leipzig and then Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga title and two Supercups with the Bavarian club before the DFB appointed him Germany head coach in September 2023.
His tactical style is built on gegenpressing, the high-intensity press to win the ball back immediately after losing it. On the ball, his Germany sides use quick vertical passes to break through defensive structures before opponents can settle into shape. His preferred base formation is a 4-2-3-1 that shifts to a 4-3-3 in attack. The dual presence of Wirtz and Musiala as interchangeable creators behind Havertz is central to that system.
Nagelsmann guided Germany to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals as the host nation, losing to Spain after extra time. He kept his job, refined the squad, and now arrives at a World Cup with his strongest group of players to date and a clear identity built on pressing and possession.
Group E at a Glance
Germany is in Group E alongside Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador. Here is how the four teams compare heading into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 10 | 21st | Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) |
| Ecuador | 23 | 5th | Round of 16 (2006) |
| Ivory Coast | 42 | 4th | Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014) |
| Curaçao | 82 | 1st (debut) | Debut tournament |
Ecuador are Germany’s biggest threat. The South Americans are ranked 23rd and reached the Round of 16 in 2006. Germany beat Ecuador 3-0 at the 2006 World Cup and have never lost to them. Ivory Coast bring pace and pressing danger. Curaçao make their World Cup debut. Germany’s path to the Round of 32 looks clear, but the real test comes after group stage exits in 2018 and 2022.
FAQ about Germany World Cup Squad 2026
What is Germany’s nickname?
Germany’s national team is nicknamed Die Mannschaft, which means “The Team” in German. They’re also called Die Nationalelf (The National Eleven) by domestic fans. The Die Mannschaft branding was officially adopted in 2011 as part of a broader DFB marketing identity.
What formation does Germany play under Nagelsmann?
Nagelsmann’s primary setup is a 4-2-3-1 that shifts to a 4-3-3 in possession. Kimmich anchors the midfield, Wirtz and Musiala rotate freely behind the striker, and the system relies on gegenpressing and quick vertical transitions. The shape adapts depending on the opponent.
How many Premier League players are in Germany’s 2026 squad?
Five players from Germany’s squad compete in the Premier League: Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade (both Newcastle United), and Pascal Groß (Brighton). Wirtz’s move to Liverpool was the biggest German transfer of the past two years.
Who is Germany’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup?
Miroslav Klose holds the record with 16 goals across four World Cups (2002 to 2014). He’s not in the squad and retired from football in 2016. Klose’s 16 goals also make him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history across all nations.
Who is Germany’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup?
Miroslav Klose holds the record with 16 goals across four World Cups (2002 to 2014). He’s not in the squad and retired from football in 2016. Klose’s 16 goals also make him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history across all nations.
Has Germany ever beaten Ecuador?
Germany has won both of their previous meetings. They beat Ecuador 3-0 in the 2006 World Cup group stage on home soil and 4-2 in a 2013 friendly. Germany haven’t lost to Ecuador in any competitive or friendly fixture.
Germany’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Germany World Cup Squad 2026 is the most balanced Nagelsmann has assembled. It blends the experience of Neuer, Rüdiger, and Kimmich with the raw talent of Wirtz, Musiala, and Pavlović. There’s real depth at every position and a clear tactical identity. Germany doesn’t arrive as a guaranteed favourite, but they’re in a far better place than the group stage exits of 2018 and 2022.
For Germany to lift the trophy, Wirtz needs his best football at a senior tournament and the back four around Rüdiger needs to stay fit. If both hold, Germany could advance deep and stand a real chance of a fifth world title. A quarter-final is the realistic floor. Anything less would be viewed as another failure for a squad of this quality.
