Germany at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

Germany is one of the most successful nations in World Cup history, having won the tournament four times: 1954 (as West Germany), 1974 (as hosts), 1990, and 2014 in Brazil. They have also finished as runners-up four times and reached the third-place play-off on four occasions, giving them 12 top-three finishes in 20 tournaments before 2026. At Russia 2018 they suffered a shocking first-round exit as defending champions, and at Qatar 2022 they again failed to advance from the group stage, making 2026 a tournament where they arrive under significant pressure to reclaim their historic standing.

Qualification

Germany qualified for the 2026 World Cup by winning UEFA qualifying Group A, finishing with 15 points from six matches (five wins, one loss). Their campaign was not without drama: they opened with a 2-0 home defeat to Slovakia but recovered emphatically, including a 6-0 demolition of Slovakia in the final qualifier that secured top spot. The group also included Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. This was Germany's 19th consecutive World Cup appearance.

Preparation

Julian Nagelsmann announced his final 26-man squad on 21 May 2026, with the biggest storyline being the return of 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from international retirement. The squad gathered at Herzogenaurach in Bavaria from 27 May. In their penultimate warm-up Germany beat Finland 4-0 in Mainz on 31 May (a Deniz Undav double plus Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala), an eighth consecutive win; Oliver Baumann started in goal with Neuer rested as a calf precaution. The team flies to the USA on 2 June for a second training camp in Chicago, plays a final warm-up against co-host USA in Chicago on 6 June, then moves into its World Cup base camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on 8 June. The attacking trio of Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Kai Havertz gives Nagelsmann genuine world-class options going forward.

Latest news

Germany's pre-tournament schedule: fly to USA 2 Jun, friendly in Chicago 6 Jun, base camp Winston-Salem from 8 Jun

· general

After the Finland win, Germany fly to the USA on 2 June and open a second training camp in Chicago. Their final warm-up is against co-host USA in Chicago on 6 June (20:30 CET), after which the team moves into its World Cup base camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on 8 June, ahead of the opener vs Curacao on 14 June.

Undav limps off vs Finland but plays down injury: 'nothing serious, a few days of treatment'

· injuries

Deniz Undav was forced off injured shortly after scoring his second goal against Finland, but quickly eased fears. Speaking to ZDF he said he felt 'a bit of pain but nothing bad' and that 'a few days of treatment and it should be fine', joking 'my butt cheek just hurts'. The knock is a minor gluteal strain and his World Cup participation is not in doubt.

Germany 4-0 Finland: Undav double and Wirtz, Musiala strikes in final home warm-up

· matches

Germany beat Finland 4-0 at the Mewa Arena in Mainz in their penultimate pre-World Cup friendly. Deniz Undav opened the scoring (34') and added a second (57'), with Florian Wirtz (48') and Jamal Musiala (63') also on target. Oliver Baumann started in goal as Manuel Neuer was rested as a precaution over his calf. It was Germany's eighth straight win.

Squad

PlayerPositionClub
Manuel NeuerGKFC Bayern München
Oliver BaumannGKTSG Hoffenheim
Alexander NübelGKVfB Stuttgart
Jonathan TahDFFC Bayern München
Joshua KimmichDFFC Bayern München
Nico SchlotterbeckDFBorussia Dortmund
Antonio RüdigerDFReal Madrid
David RaumDFRB Leipzig
Nathaniel BrownDFEintracht Frankfurt
Waldemar AntonDFBorussia Dortmund
Malick ThiawDFNewcastle United
Pascal GroßMFBrighton & Hove Albion
Leon GoretzkaMFFC Bayern München
Aleksandar PavlovićMFFC Bayern München
Felix NmechaMFBorussia Dortmund
Nadiem AmiriMF1. FSV Mainz 05
Angelo StillerMFVfB Stuttgart
Lennart KarlMFFC Bayern München
Jamal MusialaMFFC Bayern München
Florian WirtzMFLiverpool
Kai HavertzFWArsenal
Nick WoltemadeFWNewcastle United
Deniz UndavFWVfB Stuttgart
Jamie LewelingFWVfB Stuttgart
Leroy SanéFWGalatasaray
Maximilian BeierFWBorussia Dortmund

Recent results

  • 2024-03-23 — FRA 0-2 GER (friendly)
  • 2024-03-26 — GER 2-1 NED (friendly)
  • 2024-06-03 — GER 0-0 UKR (friendly)
  • 2024-06-07 — GER 2-1 GRE (friendly)
  • 2025-09-04 — SVK 2-0 GER (qualification)
  • 2025-09-07 — GER 3-1 NIR (qualification)
  • 2025-10-10 — GER 4-0 LUX (qualification)
  • 2025-10-13 — NIR 0-1 GER (qualification)
  • 2025-11-14 — LUX 0-2 GER (qualification)
  • 2025-11-17 — GER 6-0 SVK (qualification)
  • 2026-03-27 — SUI 3-4 GER (friendly)
  • 2026-03-30 — GER 2-1 GHA (friendly)
  • 2026-05-31 — GER 4-0 FIN (friendly)

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