How will Germany line up at the 2026 World Cup?
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann recently said that “the idea is that the March squad and the World Cup squad will be closely related.” The former has now been finalised, so what could that mean for his starting XI at the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada?
Germany breezed through qualifying for the 2026 global showdown after topping Group A with 15 of a possible 18 points.
And while a number of players are already guaranteed a place on the plane to cross the Atlantic, there are still several positions where Nagelsmann's options are wide open.
Legendary Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel 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.
Baumann the man
Marc-André ter Stegen was considered his natural heir for Germany for many years, but he has suffered with injuries of late and is unlikely to 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 is the senior custodian in Nagelsmann's March roster, ahead of Alexander Nübel, and first-time nominee Jonas Urbig.
Watch: A compilation of Baumann's finest saves
Continuity in defence
The back four looks equally set in stone. Captain 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. An injury-hit season for Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger has also aided the duo's claims.
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 is Nathaniel Brown, who has enjoyed a fine season for Eintracht Frankfurt. His presence in the March squad suggests he is now ahead of VfB Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstädt in the left-back pecking order.
Watch: Raum's best goals and assists
Midfield options
Less certain is who will operate in central midfield. Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can will definitely 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 teammate Aleksandar Pavlović, although the tactician appears minded to only take one of him or Felix Nmecha. All three are in the March squad, with Pascal Groß and Anton Stach somewhat surprise call-ups to offer experienced competition for places.
That suggests that the likes of Angelo Stiller and Robert Andrich, who have both been in squads under Nagelsmann, are now unlikely to make the cut.
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. However, he is not in the March pool after suffering a reaction in his ankle.
"That’s fairly normal after such a long injury lay-off," Nagelsmann said when asked about the Bayern playmaker after announcing his March squad.
"Of course it’s frustrating, because he’s been on a good path. We would have liked to have him with us. We and the club share the same goal: for the player to regain full fitness and health so he can be in contention for us at the World Cup. I’ve decided not to take him with us [in March], because it wouldn’t benefit him, us, or Bayern."
Watch: Jamal Musiala is back!
A player of Musiala's unique gifts will almost certainly be involved come the summer though, and he should begin in attacking midfield alongside Florian Wirtz.
That leaves room for a pacy winger, likely to be Serge Gnabry or Leroy Sané, although Jamie Leweling has also proved his consistency in 2025/26. Former Freiburg forward Kevin Schade has been given a chance to shine in the March squad, with Nagelsmann eager for a closer look - at the expense of Dortmund duo Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier.
Nagelsmann also handed Bayern starlet Lennart Karl a maiden call-up. With four Bundesliga goals and three assists in a stunning breakout campaign - plus a further four goals in seven UEFA Champiopns League outings this term - the 18-year-old could well be a not-so-secret weapon in the summer.
Watch: Bayern coach Vincent Kompany on Karl and Urbig being called up by Nagelsmann
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 on 16 goals, with Nagelsmann stating "you can't leave a striker like him at home".
While revealing his latest squad, the coach also emphasised that "this is not a final World Cup selection", but reiterated that it did have "a lot of parallels to the squad we'll choose at the end of May." Watch this space!
Find Germany's World Cup schedule here
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