Germany at the 2026 World Cup: Roster, Forecast, and Statistics
Will the German machine manage to get out of Group E? The German national team is a four-time world champion and holds the record for reaching the quarterfinals (eight times), however, in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the team was unable to get past the group stage.
In North America, the Germans will try to leave their recent failures behind. Julian Nagelsmann's charges have gradually stabilized their game after a tough start to the qualifying tournament, but the team is still in a stage of restructuring after personnel changes that began in 2024.
In short:
- Germany has won the World Cup four times (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014).
- The upcoming World Cup will be Germany's 19th in a row and 21st in history.
- Neuer, Wirtz, Musiala and Havertz have been included in the squad, while Gnabry, Bischof, Wedraogo and El-Mala have been left out.
- According to Opta, Germany is ranked seventh among the contenders for the title (5.1%).
- In Group E, Germany will play against Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador.
Germany's squad for the 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Alexander Nübel (both Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim).
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck (both Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah (both Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Malik Tchou (Newcastle United).
Midfielders: Pascal Groß (Brighton), Felix Nmecha, Maximilian Bayer (both Borussia Dortmund), Alexandar Pavlovic, Leon Goretzka, Lennart Karl, Jamal Musiala (all Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Nadim Amiri (Mainz), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool).
Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Jamie Leweling, Deniz Undav (both Stuttgart), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United).
Head Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Main Star
The German national team features several key players. Manuel Neuer remains an undisputed legend. Joshua Kimmich also plays a crucial role as one of the generation's leaders. The main offensive hopes are tied to Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. Deniz Undav, who had a brilliant season at Stuttgart (25 goals and 14 assists in 46 matches), deserves a special mention.
Main Problem of Germany
The main problem for the German national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup is the lack of a stable defensive framework and a world-class undisputed forward. The team has experienced defenders, but lacks a partnership at the level of the 2014 championship team. Mistakes in positional defense and instability in the center of defense remain key issues against top opponents. In attack, there are enough stars, but since the end of Miroslav Klose's career, the team lacks a distinct central sniper.
Young Talent
Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl continues his rapid progress and could be one of the tournament's revelations. Over the season, he has established himself in the club's lineup, won domestic trophies, and had a productive year: 5+5 in the Bundesliga, and 4+2 in the Champions League.
Who will miss the World Cup 2026
Serge Gnabry will miss the tournament due to a thigh adductor muscle injury sustained in training before the Bundesliga match against Stuttgart. The estimated recovery time is 4 months. This season he has played 37 matches, scored 10 goals and made 11 assists.
Form of the German national team
Qualification
Germany secured their place in the World Cup by winning qualifying Group A. The team won five out of six matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding three. After a defeat in Bratislava (0:2), the team significantly improved and finished the qualification with a confident revenge against Slovakia (6:0).
Recent results
In spring, Germany played three friendly matches and won all of them. In March, Nagelsmann's charges beat Switzerland (4:3) and Ghana (2:1), and on May 31, the Germans thrashed the Finnish team (4:0).
Preparation for the World Cup
On June 6, the Germans will play their last friendly match before the start of the World Cup. They will play against one of the host countries of the tournament - the USA national team – at the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago.
World Cup 2026 match schedule
Date (start time of the match CTE time) | Opponent | Stadium | Odds for the win |
June 14, 19:00 | NRG Stadium (Houston, USA) | 1.02* | |
June 20, 22:00 | BMO Field (Toronto, Canada) | 1.54* | |
June 25, 22:00 | MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, USA) | 1.66* |
Germany's chances of advancing from the group
The probability of Germany advancing to the playoffs is about 82%, and the chance of taking first place in the group is the highest among all participants in the quartet. The main threat to Germany is not Curaçao, but the organized Ecuador and the strong Côte d'Ivoire, which are capable of punishing the Germans for defensive mistakes.
Bookmakers' odds for the German national team at the World Cup 2026
Bet | Odds |
Will advance from the group | 1.02 |
Will take 1st place in the group | 1.31 |
Will not take 1st place in the group | 2.75 |
Will not advance from the group | 16.0 |
Will win the World Cup | 15.00 |
Will not win the World Cup | 1.07 |
Will reach the final | 6.5 |
Will not reach the final | 1.22 |
Will reach the semi-finals | 4.50 |
Will not reach the semi-finals | 1.28 |
Kai Havertz will be the top scorer | 51.0 |
Deniz Undav will be the top scorer | 150.0 |
Why Germany might not win the World Cup?
Germany is a team with semi-final potential, but not a guaranteed champion. In decisive matches, it lacks the consistency that distinguishes title-winning teams from simply strong ones. Even with a strong Germany, there are at least 4-5 teams of comparable or higher level. In knockout matches against such opponents, the difference between a "good team" and a "champion" is minimal.
Scores24's forecast for the German team
The German team approaches the 2026 World Cup as a second-tier favorite: with a powerful attacking line and high variability in attack, but a less stable defense and periodic structural problems. The team should confidently pass the group and in most scenarios reach the quarter-finals. However, the ceiling of the result depends on the quality of defense and the stability of the starting lineup.
In the playoffs, Germany remains a dangerous opponent for any top team, but does not look like an unconditional contender for the title at the level of France, England or Spain. The optimistic scenario is a fight for the final with a lucky draw and stable form of leaders, while the risk lies in an early exit at the stage of 1/8-1/4 finals against an elite-level opponent.
The opening match against Curaçao looks like one of the most one-sided meetings of the group stage. Germany is a clear favorite, and the key question is not about the outcome, but about the goal difference. Considering the class difference, the most logical bet seems to be a victory for Germany with a handicap (-3.5), considering the attacking potential and weak defense of the opponent. The coefficient is 1.94*.
Predictions for all 2026 World Cup matches will be available in the tournament section starting from June 9.
*the coefficients are approximate, may vary in different bookmakers and are current at the time of publication
FAQ
Who is the coach of the German national football team?
Julian Nagelsmann is the youngest head coach in the history of the German national team. The 38-year-old specialist was appointed to the position in September 2023, and he had little time to prepare for the 2024 European Championship, which took place in Germany. Initially, he agreed to lead the team until the end of the tournament, but then, even before the start of the Euro, he extended his contract until 2026. Since then, he has signed his third contract with the German Football Federation, which will be in effect until the 2028 European Championship inclusive.
Who is the captain of the German national football team?
Despite Neuer's return to the national team, it is reported that Joshua Kimmich will become the captain of Germany and will play a key leadership role in the tournament in North America.
How many times has Germany won the World Cup?
Germany has won the World Cup four times. The last time they achieved this was in 2014 in Brazil, defeating the Argentine team (1:0) after 120 minutes. Mario Götze scored the only goal in the 113th minute.
Who is the top scorer in the history of the German national team?
The top scorer in the history of the national team is Miroslav Klose, who scored 71 goals in 131 matches. The forward is also the top scorer in the history of the World Cup – he has 16 goals to his name.
Who will the German national team play against at the 2026 World Cup?
In Group E, the Germans will play against Curaçao, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast.
What are the odds for Germany's victory in the 2026 World Cup?
Bookmakers are offering odds of around 15.0 for the Bundesteam to win the World Cup.
