World Cup stars of the Bundesliga: Nathaniel Brown
Despite only making his Germany debut in October 2025, Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown is on course to be named in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Name: Nathaniel Brown
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Nation: Germany
International debut: 10 October 2025
Caps: 3
There is plenty of competition for the left-back berth in Julian Nagelsmann’s starting XI, with RB Leipzig’s David Raum and VfB Stuttgart’s Maximilian Mittelstädt also in the mix.
The full-back, who was also eligible to represent the USA through his father, started out at Nuremberg, making his debut in 2022/23 and becoming a key member of the Bundesliga 2 side’s team in 2023/24. The Eagles clearly liked what they saw and acquired his services ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Watch: The best of Nathaniel Brown
Brown was not involved in the opening few games of that season, but scored on his first Bundesliga start for the club against VfB Bochum on Matchday 9 and never looked back. Now, he is the number one choice on the left of the defence, regularly popping up with goals and assists in an attack-minded outfit.
His performances caught the eye of Nagelsmann, who gave him his first cap in the 4-0 qualification win over Luxembourg and his first start in the 2-1 friendly triumph over Ghana. The national team manager is obviously a fan, as he explained ahead of the March international break:
“He brings a lot to the table, has great dynamism, is very fast, very creative, has good composure on the ball, and is increasingly developing a leadership mentality. During a difficult period, he was the player in Frankfurt, among those in contention for the national team, who consistently delivered the most reliable performances over a long period. He was very, very consistent.”
Given he is still at the start of his international career, it remains to be seen how much he plays at the showpiece, with Germany set to face Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E.
However, should he be given the opportunity to display his talents, he has the ability to make himself a key component of Germany’s run through the tournament.
Related news
Germany's secret weapon?
Find out more on the young Frankfurt defender hoping to book himself a plane ticket for this summer's FIFA World Cup...
Which Americans are playing in Germany?
How are the likes of Gio Reyna, Joe Scally and Malik Tillman faring in the Bundesliga in 2025/26?
Brown: 'Competition is tough for the World Cup'
A wide-ranging interview with the Frankfurt defender on playing for Germany, life under Albert Riera at Eintracht and much more!