Germany's World Cup 2026 Squad: Nagelsmann's Picks — and How to Tip Germany
Germany's World Cup 2026 squad is set: Julian Nagelsmann named 26 players on May 21, captained by Joshua Kimmich ahead of his third World Cup. But three other names make the headlines — Manuel Neuer returns as number one, Nadiem Amiri is the surprise call-up, and just before the tournament wonderkid Lennart Karl tears a muscle. Here are the cornerstones, the talking points — and how to tip Germany in your round.
Stand: 2026-06-06 · Opener: June 14 vs. Curaçao, 19:00 CEST.
The cornerstones of the squad
In goal, Neuer, Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel form a trio with a clear hierarchy. The defence is anchored by captain Kimmich, plus Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldemar Anton, Malick Thiaw and left-back David Raum — alongside newcomer Nathaniel Brown of Eintracht Frankfurt. In midfield, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Angelo Stiller, Felix Nmecha, Leon Goretzka and Pascal Groß hold the centre.
The attack is Germany's real asset: Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz as the spine, plus Leroy Sané, Nick Woltemade, Deniz Undav and Maximilian Beier. When Wirtz and Musiala click at the same time, few groups have an answer.
Neuer's return in goal
The biggest call is a comeback. Manuel Neuer, a 2014 world champion, had played his most recent international in the quarter-final of the 2024 home Euros against Spain — cap number 124. Nagelsmann brings him back as number one. Alongside Kimmich (108 caps), that makes Neuer the most experienced man in the squad — a deliberate signal that knockout games call for a routine pair of hands.
The surprises: Amiri in, El Mala out
Midfield raised the most eyebrows. Nagelsmann named Mainz's Nadiem Amiri — a pick few had counted on. The flip side: Said El Mala. The 19-year-old breakout star of 1. FC Köln had been reported as a lock by several outlets, but was missing at the official announcement. No Köln player is going to the World Cup at all. Pre-reported call-ups turned out to be false — a neat reminder of why you wait for the official list before believing squad rumours.
Karl's cruel exit — Ouédraogo steps in
Then the June 5 news: Lennart Karl tore a muscle in his left thigh in final training in Chicago before the USA friendly and is out of the World Cup. Nagelsmann called up Assan Ouédraogo of RB Leipzig — at 20, another big talent, who scored on his debut in the 6-0 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia. "It's a huge shock for him and for all of us," Nagelsmann said of Karl. Of Ouédraogo: he should "play boldly and freely."
Germany's Group E and a realistic target
Germany face World Cup debutant Curaçao, three-time African champions Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E. On paper it's a manageable draw — Germany go in as favourites for top spot. On the outright title, though, market consensus puts Germany in the wider contender pool, not the top three (France, Spain, England). Realistically: winning the group is the baseline, and from the round of 32 we'll see how far this squad — Neuer in goal, Wirtz and Musiala in the centre — really carries.
Group-stage dates (all CEST):
- June 14, 19:00 — vs. Curaçao, Houston (live ARD + MagentaTV)
- June 20, 22:00 — vs. Ivory Coast, Toronto (live ZDF + MagentaTV)
- June 25, 22:00 — vs. Ecuador, New York/New Jersey (live ARD + MagentaTV)
How to tip Germany
Three winnable opponents, one favourite — and that's exactly the tipping trap: how many goals against Curaçao? Does Germany come through unbeaten? Those are the calls that decide your round. For each of the 104 matches, our AI Pick gives a take with reasoning — the Germany game included.
- Create a free round now — in 30 seconds, up to 20 players
- Germany's Group E in detail
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Who is in Germany's World Cup 2026 squad?
Nagelsmann named 26 players on May 21. Joshua Kimmich is captain and Manuel Neuer returns as number one. The attacking spine is Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz. Just before the tournament Lennart Karl was ruled out injured and replaced by Assan Ouédraogo.
Why is Neuer Germany's number one again?
Nagelsmann wants routine for the knockout rounds. Neuer, a 2014 world champion, played his most recent of 124 caps in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Spain and is — alongside Kimmich (108 caps) — the most experienced player in the squad.
What were the surprises in Nagelsmann's squad?
The biggest positive surprise was the call-up of Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri. The biggest letdown: Köln breakout star Said El Mala missed out despite earlier media reports — no Köln player is at the World Cup.
Who missed out on the Germany 2026 squad?
Said El Mala (1. FC Köln) was left out despite reported assurances. Lennart Karl was initially in the squad but suffered a torn muscle on June 5 and was replaced by Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig).
How do I tip Germany at the 2026 World Cup?
Create a round and tip Germany's three group games (Curaçao June 14, Ivory Coast June 20, Ecuador June 25). On tiptilldone you get an AI Pick with reasoning for each match as a decision aid — played against your friends, free up to 20 players.
Discover more
- World Cup 2026 overview — the tournament pillar
- Germany in Group E — schedule & forecast
- World Cup 2026 favourites — who will win?
- Human vs. AI: who predicts the 2026 World Cup better?
Stand: 2026-06-06 · Author: Leo Brunnhofer, tiptilldone.com
Sources:
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