GER
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP E · POT 1

Germany
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Julian Nagelsmann · First World Cup as head coach (appointed Sep 2023; reached Euro 2024 quarter-finals)
MD1 Jun 14 vs Curaçao MD2 Jun 20 vs Ivory Coast MD3 Jun 25 vs Ecuador
21th World Cup appearance · best finish: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
26
Squad size
27.6
Avg. age
8 / 26
Overseas-based
9 / 16
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Julian Nagelsmann's Germany aim to bury the back-to-back group-stage exits of 2018 and 2022. 40-year-old legend Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) has come out of international retirement to reclaim the No.1 jersey.

Captain Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich, deployed at right-back under Nagelsmann), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) and Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) form the technical core in midfield. Kai Havertz (Arsenal) leads the line, with Leroy Sané (Galatasaray) providing flair. Breakout teenager Lennart Karl withdrew injured and Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig) was called up in his place, taking the No. 25 shirt.

Group E pairs Germany with Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Top spot is expected as Pot 1 — a confident opener against Curaçao on June 14 (Houston) is the platform to build on Euro 2024's quarter-final run.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-2-3-1.

Nagelsmann's preferred 4-2-3-1 with Kimmich at right-back, Goretzka/Pavlović as the pivot, and a Wirtz/Musiala/Sané attacking band behind Havertz.

4-2-3-1 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

6
RB · MF
Joshua Kimmich
Bayern Munich · 31 · Bundesliga
110 caps · 10G WC: 2018, 2022
Captain at right-back
CAPTAIN
17
AM · MF
Florian Wirtz
Liverpool · 23 · Premier League
32 caps · 5G WC debut
Creative spark
ACE
10
CAM · FW
Jamal Musiala
Bayern Munich · 23 · Bundesliga
37 caps · 4G WC: 2022
Left-side dribbler
1
GK · GK
Manuel Neuer
Bayern Munich · 40 · Bundesliga
124 caps · 0G WC: 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
40-year-old returning No.1
7
ST · FW
Kai Havertz
Arsenal · 27 · Premier League
51 caps · 21G WC: 2022
Centre-forward reference
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 7
MF MIDFIELDERS 10
FW FORWARDS 6
GROUP E

GROUP E.

GER
Germany
POT 1
CUW
Curaçao
POT 4
CIV
Ivory Coast
POT 3
ECU
Ecuador
POT 2
Sun, Jun 14
Germany vs Curaçao
Houston Stadium · Houston, USA
Pot 2 dark horses Curaçao open as Germany's first test. Havertz's link with Wirtz and Musiala is the key story.
View lineups →
MD1
Sat, Jun 20
Germany vs Ivory Coast
Toronto Stadium · Toronto, Canada
Ivory Coast's African-champion-calibre athleticism tests the Rüdiger/Tah pairing in the air.
View lineups →
MD2
Thu, Jun 25
Ecuador vs Germany
New York New Jersey Stadium · New Jersey, USA
Group decider. Ecuador's high-tempo press challenges Germany's build-up patterns.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Foxborough vs 3rd place (A/B/C/D/F)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Philadelphia vs Winner of Match 77
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 90
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 30 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group I
  2. Round of 16 Jul 05 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 76
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Miami Gardens vs Winner of Match 92
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 100
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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