On the evening of May 22nd (Vietnam time), the German national team announced its official 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup. The most notable detail is the return of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The 40-year-old Bayern Munich star is participating in his fifth World Cup and is the only member of the German team that has previously won the tournament.
The last time Neuer played for the team nicknamed "Die Mannschaft" was at EURO 2024 (Germany lost to Spain and were eliminated in the quarter-finals). During Neuer's two-year absence, coach Julian Nagelsmann preferred to use Oliver Baumann (35 years old, Hoffenheim). The other option was Alexander Nubel (29 years old, Stuttgart).
Germany's squad for the 2026 World Cup.
"My goal was to select the three best goalkeepers in the country, and they are the three best," coach Nagelsmann explained.
“We called Manuel and asked him if he wanted to play for the German national team again, and he wanted to participate in the tournament. His ability is the deciding factor. Everyone knows how good Manuel is thanks to his experience and the titles he has won.”
The 38-year-old coach – younger than Neuer – said he spoke with Oliver Baumann since March about bringing Neuer back. According to German television channel DW, Baumann accepted the decision and the German national team has no serious problems in the goalkeeping position.
The German national team will begin training in the last week of May, with the exception of Kai Havertz. The striker was playing with Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest (Hungary) on May 30th (local time), so he was allowed to join later.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann and the players will depart for the United States on June 2nd. The German national team has chosen North Carolina as their accommodation and training location. At the 2026 World Cup, Germany is in Group E along with Curacao, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast. Since winning the World Cup in 2014, "Die Mannschaft" has not advanced beyond the group stage of the World Cup.
Germany's official squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann, Manuel Neuer, Alexander Nubel.
Defenders: Joshua Kimmich, Nico Schlotterbeck, Nathaniel Brown, David Raum, Waldemar Anton, Antonio Rudiger, Malick Thiaw, Jonathan Tah.
Midfielders: Jamal Musiala, Jamie Leweling, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Felix Nmecha, Angelo Stiller, Leon Goretzka, Pascal Gross.
Forwards: Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav, Maximilian Beier, Florian Wirtz, Nick Woltemade, Lennart Karl, Leroy Sane.
Germany's schedule for the 2026 World Cup
June 1st - 1:45 AM: Germany vs Finland (friendly).
June 7th - 1:30 AM: USA vs Germany (friendly).
June 15th - 00:00: Germany vs Curacao (group stage).
June 21st - 3 AM: Germany vs Ivory Coast (group stage).
June 26th - 3 AM: Ecuador vs Germany (group stage).
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/doi-hinh-duc-du-world-cup-2026-moi-nhat-neuer-tro-lai-ar1018614.html
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