Manuel Neuer Joins Germany’s World Cup 2026 Squad After Retirement

• Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement to join Germany’s FIFA World Cup 2026 squad.

• Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is expected to make Neuer the team’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Oliver Baumann.

• Young stars Said El Mala and Lennart Karl are among the surprise inclusions in Germany’s reported World Cup squad.

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been coaxed out of retirement for the World Cup by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

The 40-year-old Neuer retired after the 2024 European Championship but was included in Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

His inclusion is a blow to Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who was assured he was the No. 1 until reports emerged in recent weeks that Julian Nagelsmann was thinking about a Neuer recall. Up to last week, Baumann was saying Nagelsmann told him he’d be the starting goalkeeper at the World Cup.

The 35-year-old Baumann has shown over more than 500 Bundesliga appearances that he’s a team player, and he’s unlikely to let any personal disappointment impact Germany’s chances of success.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was seen as Neuer’s natural successor but has been beset by injuries, making just two appearances for Girona after joining the club on loan in January.

Also Check: Brazil’s Squad For FIFA World Cup 2026

Baumann has made 11 appearances for Germany, compared to 124 by Neuer, whose last game was in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals hosted by Germany, a 2-1 extra-time loss to eventual champion Spain.

The call for Neuer’s inclusion grew stronger after he delivered stellar performances for Bayern Munich, particularly against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals.

The only concern remains his recurring injuries. Neuer went off early during Bayern’s last Bundesliga game of the season, and the club stated on Sunday he “must take a break for the time being because of muscular problems in his left calf.” It remains uncertain if Neuer could play in the German Cup final against Stuttgart on Saturday.

Drip-feed announcements

In a bid to generate more excitement, the German soccer federation (DFB) began on Thursday morning announcing the World Cup squad one by one before Nagelsmann’s scheduled announcement that afternoon.

Midfielder Joshua Kimmich was the first to have his place confirmed, followed by Deniz Undav, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz, and Bayern star Jamal Musiala.

Also Check: Portugal’s Squad For FIFA World Cup 2026

Musiala made the squad after impressing for Bayern and proving his fitness after recovering from a leg injury sustained at the Club World Cup in July.

Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown will get a chance to add to his three appearances.

Bayern forward Serge Gnabry was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, while young Bayern teammate Lennart Karl won his race to be fit in time.

Germany is aiming for its fifth title.

Four-time champion Germany faces Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and newcomer Curacao in Group E at the World Cup.

Preparations are set to begin in the Bavarian resort of Herzogenaurach on May 27, two days later than initially planned.

The team will play warm-up matches against Finland in Mainz on May 31, followed by the United States in Chicago on June 6.

Germany Squad For FIFA World Cup 2026:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (Leipzig), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Pascal Groß (Brighton), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray)