Manuel Neuer will play in goal again for Julian Nagelsmann's Germany at the FIFA World Cup 2026. - © IMAGO/Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON

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Manuel Neuer makes Germany return for FIFA World Cup 2026 squad

21.05.2026

Manuel Neuer has reversed his international retirement to return for Germany at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA this summer. Find how who else has made Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad...

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Germany will play in Group E at this summer’s finals in North America, taking on Curacao in Houston on 14 June, Ivory Coast in Toronto on 20 June and Ecuador in New Jersey on 25 June as they look for a record-equalling fifth World Cup crown.

Germany's 2026 World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart)
Defenders/midfielders/forwards: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Groß (Brighton), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (captain, Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (VfB Stuttgart), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart), Jonathan Tah (Bayern), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United), Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)

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Watch. Nagelsmann on his World Cup squad selection

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann on his roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the reasons behind recalling Manuel Neuer.

Nagelsmann explains goalkeeper decision

Manuel Neuer's return to the Germany squad is a shock, as he has come out of international retirement to do so. Nagelsmann has revealed that Marc-André ter Stegen was set to be first choice, but his injury ended that possibility. Oliver Baumann was then promoted to number one. He doesn't know exactly when the idea of bringing Neuer back was first floated, but his conviction that it was the right decision grew over time.

Nagelsmann on Amiri

"Nadiem is always passionate, he always wants to win. If he plays 10 minutes, he gives it his all for 10, if he plays 90 minutes, he gives it his all for 90. He'll initially have a back-up role, but he'll definitely get his minutes, I'm sure of that. He's always eager to win a game and is always at his limit. That's what we need."

Nagelsmann explains Beier selection

"He is always at full gas, and he's had a decent scoring record this year. He embodies a lot of that German work ethic. He's energetic, he gives it his all, just the way we want to see the national team."

Nagelsmann on Stiller

"He had a lot of pressure for the two games [in March], not from me, but from himself. He absolutely deserves his place in the squad. If you saw how he played against Leverkusen, you saw what he's capable of. He is an outstandingly good player."

Forwards

There are places in the 26 for Nick Woltemade and Leroy Sané. The latter, now at Galatasaray, has 16 goals in 74 caps, while Newcastle United striker Woltemade, formerly of Werder Bremen and Stuttgart, has four in 10 and will aim to make an impact in his first international tournament.

Midfielders

A mix of experience and youth makes up the rest of Germany's midfield for this tournament. After just two international appearances, picked up in March, Lennart Karl is on the plane after impressing for Bayern Munich. At the other end of the scale, 34-year-old Pascal Groß also goes to his maiden World Cup, as does Felix Nmecha. Germany stalwarts Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are included, with Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller also making his first trip to the international showpiece.

Defenders

Nagelsmann has selected Waldemar Anton, Antonio Rüdiger, Jonathan Tah and Malick Thiaw as additional defenders. For Anton and Thiaw, it will be their first participation at a World Cup, while Rüdiger is travelling to his third.

Goalkeepers

The big news is that Manuel Neuer is back for Germany and joins Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel as the goalkeeping trio. Nagelsmann has confirmed that the Bayern captain will be first choice in goal. Jonas Urbig will also join the squad in North America to help with training and be on hand in case he's needed as a replacement.

Go for Goretzka

Nagelsmann has spoken of the good relationship he had with Leon Goretzka during their time together at Bayern and he's called up the 31-year-old midfielder for his third World Cup after strong form for the Bundesliga champions this year.

Beier on board

Maximilian Beier is the second Dortmund man included as he returns to the fold for the first time since October. The forward finished the season with 10 goals in all competitions but is yet to net in seven senior caps.

First surprise?

Perhaps for some, but only Undav scored more goals among German players across Europe this season than Nadiem Amiri, who netted 17 from midfield as Mainz powered their way out of the relegation zone to safety this campaign.

Room for Raum

The RB Leipzig captain has been Germany's first-choice left-back for the best part of four years, earning 36 caps since his debut in September 2021. The 28-year-old provided seven assists in the Bundesliga last season, was level with Julian Ryerson for the most crosses in the division (199) and was outright top for chances created (96).

3:09

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Next up: Pavlović

After tonsilitis kept him out of the home Euros in 2024, Bayern midfielder Aleks Pavlović will now get his first taste of a senior international tournament. The 22-year-old is expected to anchor Germany's midfield in North America.

4:56

Watch: Brown's Bundesliga best bits

Nene in the squad

Nathaniel Brown, whose father is American, will compete for Germany in North America this summer. The 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt man will compete for the left-back spot but can also play further forward if needed. He has three senior caps since making his debut against Luxembourg last October.

3:51

Watch: Leweling's Stuttgart best bits

Leweling on the plane

Jamie Leweling also gets the call for his first senior international tournament off the back of an excellent campaign with Stuttgart by the 25-year-old winger.

3:42

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Bambi's chance to shine

The fifth player on board is Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala. He's slowly been returning to full fitness over the course of the year since his horrible injury sustained at last summer's Club World Cup in the USA.

Welcome aboard, Kai

Fresh from winning the English Premier League with Arsenal, while also competing in next week's UEFA Champions League final, Kai Havertz will feature at his second World Cup with Germany.

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Watch: Dortmund's rock at the back

Dortmund's Defensive rock

Third to be announced is Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck. The 26-year-old is expected to be a starter for Nagelsmann's side in North America.

5:15

Watch: How is Undav different from other strikers?

First striker

One of Kimmich's rivals in this Saturday's DFB Cup final will also be competing in the finals this summer. It's Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav, who's already got 25 goals in all competitions this season.

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Watch: What makes Kimmich so good?

Captain Kimmich

The German FA have began announcing their squad through some emotional videos on Instagram. The first player confirmed is captain Joshua Kimmich.

Welcome!

It's squad announcement day in Germany as we learn which 26 players will represent the nation at this summer's FIFA World Cup in North America. Find out here throughout Thursday who's going to be on the plane with Julian Nagelsmann.