How will Germany line up at the 2026 World Cup?
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann recently said that "there will be decisions which probably won’t be met with a great deal of understanding" with regard to his 2026 FIFA World Cup squad selection. We take a closer look at what that could mean for his starting XI...
There was optimism in the air around the Germany camp after a feelgood Euro 2024 in which the hosts played some superb football on the way to their first quarter-final appearance at a major tournament since 2016.
That continued into their World Cup qualifying campaign, in which they secured a spot at the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada after topping Group A with 15 of a possible 18 points.
Baumann the man
Much of the team in the graphic above will likely look completely different. Legendary Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer has retired from international football and resisted numerous calls to reverse his decision. He will be missed - as a World Cup winner, one of Germany's most-capped players ever (124) and pioneer of the sweeper-keeper role.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen was considered his natural heir for Germany for many years, but he has suffered with injuries of late and may not be fit in time to make the squad.
That has opened the door for Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann to claim the No.1 spot. The 35-year-old started all six of Germany’s World Cup qualifiers and appears to be preferred to Alex Nübel and Finn Dahmen between the posts.
Watch: A compilation of Baumann's finest saves
Continuity in defence
While there are likely to be many changes across all positions from EURO 2024, the back four should essentially remain the same.
Joshua Kimmich plays at right-back under Nagelsmann for Germany, and will continue to do so. Nico Schlotterbeck has emerged as the preferred partner to Jonathan Tah at centre-back, both thanks to him being a natural left-footer and his ability to build from the back.
On the left flank, David Raum tends to start. “He’s like chewing gum in the group, he has a good connection with everyone,” Nagelsmann said of the 27-year-old. “Becoming captain at Leipzig has suited him very well – he’s now taking on more responsibility with us too.”
Waiting in the wings are VfB Stuttgart’s Maximilian Mittelstädt and Nathaniel Brown, who has enjoyed a fine season for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Watch: Raum's best goals and assists
Midfield options
Like Neuer, Toni Kroos and İlkay Gündoğan have now retired from international duty, while Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can will miss out after tearing a cruciate ligament in Der Klassiker on Matchday 24.
Nagelsmann recently suggested that Leon Goretzka will have an important role to play in holding midfield, possibly alongside Bayern team-mate Aleksandar Pavlović, although the tactician appears minded to only take one of him or Felix Nmecha.
That suggests that the likes of Angelo Stiller and Robert Andrich, who have both been in squads under Nagelsmann, are likely to be squad players at best in the USA.
Watch: Pavlović's stellar season under the spotlight
The pointy end of the spear
Further forward, Jamal Musiala has recovered well from the broken leg suffered at the FIFA Club World Cup last summer, meaning he should begin in the playmaker role in tandem with Florian Wirtz.
That leaves room for a pacy winger, likely to be Serge Gnabry or Leroy Sané, although Stuttgart duo Chris Führich and Jamie Leweling have also proved their consistency in 2025/26, while the names of Dortmund duo Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier are also in the hat.
Watch: Jamal Musiala is back!
The lone striker’s role in Nagelsmann’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation remains open. Kai Havertz is always an option if he can remain injury-free, while Nick Woltemade’s height and physical presence offer the coach a different approach no other candidate can provide.
Deniz Undav is the leading German scorer in the Bundesliga this season, while Frankfurt’s Jonathan Burkardt’s minutes-to-goals ratio of 87 this season mean he could also be on the plane.
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