Germany has never been easy to ignore at a World Cup, and heading into 2026, that's not about to change. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed the country's full 26-man roster on Thursday, finalizing Germany's squad.
With 48 nations involved this time around, the stakes are higher across the board, and Nagelsmann knows Germany can't afford another early exit. The four-time World Cup winners failed to get past the group stage in both 2018 and 2022, making this a tournament they genuinely need to get right.
This will be Germany's 21st World Cup appearance, and Nagelsmann has leaned into experience while trimming some familiar faces from the final list.
Hannah Mckay-Reuters via Imagn Images
Germany's 2026 World Cup Squad: Key Inclusions and Surprise Omissions
31-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich leads the group as captain. Alongside him, Nagelsmann kept faith with a strong core that includes Antonio Rüdiger, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané, and Nick Woltemade.
The bigger conversation, though, is who didn't make it. Manuel Neuer is back as the expected starter in goal at 40 years old, having previously stepped away from international duty before returning ahead of the tournament.
His inclusion came directly at the expense of Marc-André ter Stegen, who was left off the roster entirely. Noah Atubolu also missed out despite making a strong case for himself at Freiburg.
Robert Andrich was cut despite being one of Bayer Leverkusen's more reliable performers domestically. Yann Aurel Bisseck lost out in what was a tight battle for defensive spots. Up front, Niclas Füllkrug's physical hold-up style reportedly didn't fit the faster attacking shape Nagelsmann wants to play. Karim Adeyemi and Kevin Schade were also left out after inconsistent club seasons.
Germany's Full 26-Man World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim), Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart)
Defenders: Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders: Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Nadiem Amiri (1. FSV Mainz), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Jamie Leweling (VfB Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund)
The squad has the quality. Now it needs the results.
