Germany squad World Cup 2026: Julian Nagelsmann's final 26-man selection (original) (raw)

Germany World Cup 2026 squad: Germany Euro 2024 squad Florian Wirtz of Germany poses for a portrait during the Germany Portrait session ahead of the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany on June 10, 2024 in Herzogenaurach, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Florian Wirtz of Germany (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Germany World Cup 2026 squad has been named, with huge names across the team.

Julian Nagelsmann's side eased to World Cup 2026 qualification with five wins from six and will have one of the strongest squads at the tournament, as one of the favourites, despite recent form in this competition.

It's been 12 years since Germany lifted the World Cup in Rio, and in the two tournaments since, they've not even progressed to the knockouts – yet there is hope that this group can compete for the trophy once more.

The sole survivor of 2014, Manuel Neuer, is now 40 years old and still between the sticks, though his regular deputy, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, isn't going to North America: it'll be Neuer's Bayern Munich colleague Joshua Kimmich that captains, however, with Die Roten represented by a whopping seven players.

Not all Bavaria-based ballers have gone, though, with Serge Gnabry perhaps the highest-profile omission, while Robert Andrich, Ridle Baku, Karim Adeyemi, Niclas Fullkrug and Kevin Schade are all missing, too.

Kai Havertz has made the squad just in time after an injury-plagued 18 months, Nick Woltemade has been named as one of three genuine centre-forward options despite a tough debut season on Tyneside, and there are plenty of genuine gamechangers in the likes of Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Max Beier and Angelo Stiller.

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl had got the nod, only for a muscle bundle tear in his left thigh suffered in training to see him replaced by RB Leipzig's Assan Ouedraogo.

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The Germans aren't exactly a dead cert for this tournament but it's probably the best position that they've been in heading into a tournament since they last won this one.

Squad

Germany World Cup 2026 squad: The final selection

Fixtures and results

Fixtures

Results

Group E standings

Germany are in Group E at World Cup 2026.

Manager

Who is Germany's manager?

Germany Euro 2024 squad Julian Nagelsmann, Head Coach of Germany, poses for a portrait during the Germany Portrait session ahead of the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany on June 10, 2024 in Herzogenaurach, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Julian Nagelsmann is in charge of Die Mannschaft (Image credit: Getty Images)

At 28, Julian Nagelsmann became the youngest manager in Bundesliga history when he took charge of Hoffenheim.

A staple of German football, Nagelsmann's style relies on gegenpressing when his team lose the ball. On the ball, his teams often try and dominate possession.

He is ranked at no.18 in FourFourTwo's list of the best managers in the world right now, and will be looking to add to the three trophies he won with Bayern Munich in his two-year stint.

Germany's Star Player

Who is Germany's star player?

Germany Euro 2024 squad Florian Wirtz of Germany celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Germany and Scotland at Munich Football Arena on June 14, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Florian Wirtz of Germany (Image credit: Getty Images)

He may not have come to life in a Liverpool shirt just yet, but Florian Wirtz is still one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.

Ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the best attacking midfielders in the world right now, Wirtz will undoubtedly find his form eventually, and when with Germany, he usually performs some of his best stuff.

However, Jamal Musiala has now returned to club action following a nasty injury last summer, so Wirtz is set to have plenty of competition heading into this summer's tournament.

Best XI

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.