Germany squad World Cup 2026: Which players will make it to the showpiece in USA, Mexico and Canada?

With the legendary Manuel Neuer now retired from Germany duty, Barcelona shot-stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to be the first-choice goalkeeper for Die Mannschaft at the tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year.

However, Ter Stegen has faced injury issues of his own recently, which has thrown the race for the starting goalkeeper spot wide open. Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann has performed well in the Bundesliga, while Alexander Nubel of Stuttgart is also a reliable option, with Manchester City's Stefan Ortega not out of the running completely either.

Still, if Ter Stegen remains fit, he is expected to be the undisputed starter, having spent much of his international career playing second fiddle to Neuer.

In the German defence, some familiar names may be missing, but the options available to Julian Nagelsmann are still of high quality. Thilo Kehrer of Monaco has been impressive playing at center-back, while Jonathan Tah from Bayern Munich is another excellent option in the heart of the defense.

Antonio Rudiger continues to be a stalwart at the back for both club and country and will once again be a key player for Germany at the World Cup next year.

Waldemar Anton, who joined Borussia Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2024, is another strong contender for a center-back role alongside club teammate Niklas Sule.

In the wider areas, Germany are well equipped with players like David Raum, Robin Gosens, and Maximilian Mittelstadt. Despite a seemingly weaker backline on paper as compared to the ones in previous years, Nagelsmann is the ideal manager to get the best out of them.

Compared to the defence, Germany's midfield is significantly more formidable. Joshua Kimmich's presence in the middle of the park provides much-needed stability for the team, both in attack and defense.

Young Aleksandar Pavlovic is one of the emerging talents in the German squad and could play a key role for Die Mannschaft at the tournament next year. Similarly, Felix Nmecha is another promising player who could be included in the World Cup squad.

Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka is also expected to have an important role to play, while the attacking responsibilities in midfield will likely fall on the shoulders of the brilliant Florian Wirtz, who recently joined Premier League champions Liverpool.

In the attacking department, Germany are well stacked with some of the top talents in Europe. Jamal Musiala will undoubtedly be the player to watch at the showpiece event in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year. Despite his young age, Musiala is already considered one of the best attacking players in Europe.

Alongside him, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry offer exciting options on the flanks for Nagelsmann, both possessing tremendous pace and flair.

In the striking role, Nagelsmann will have several quality options to choose from. Arsenal's Kai Havertz, although not a traditional striker, can play a vital role with his goal contributions. Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade has also impressed in the Bundesliga and could make a strong case for himself if he continues to perform consistently.

Deniz Undav and Niclas Fulkrug are also two very interesting options that Nagelsmann could possibly opt for.

As mentioned earlier, young Jamal Musiala is expected to be Germany's standout player at the 2026 World Cup. The talented youngster has been waiting for a stage like this and could play a crucial role if Germany make a deep run in the tournament.

In addition to the Bayern Munich sensation, Florian Wirtz is another player who will attract significant attention from fans. The former Bayer Leverkusen star recently completed a big-money move to Liverpool after leading Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season.

Veterans like Joshua Kimmich and Antonio Rudiger will also have major roles to play for Germany. Both have consistently been key figures for the national team and will once again be expected to deliver their best on the world stage.

Up-front Kai Havertz could prove to be a important player for the Germans. Despite playing in the attacking midfield area for the major part of his career, Havertz has adapted well to play in the number 9 position.

Nagelsmann has consistently preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation with double pivots. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, who have already played in that role under Nagelsmann at Bayern, are expected to feature similarly at the World Cup.

In the backline, Antonio Rudiger and Jonathan Tah can form a formidable center-back pairing, while Robin Gosens is a reliable option on the left. Thilo Kehrer, although naturally a center-back, has proven he can perform well in the wider areas when deployed at right-back.

The front four of the German side offer a lethal attacking setup, with Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, and Florian Wirtz forming the trio behind the striker, with Serge Gnabry providing coming off the bench. Kai Havertz, though not a traditional number nine, is capable of delivering solid performances as the target man up front, similar to how he has performed for Chelsea and Arsenal.