Julian Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann announced Germany's final 26-man World Cup squad on 21 May 2026 via a novel format: individual DFB Instagram videos for each selected player, delayed from a planned 12 May announcement to allow the Bundesliga season to conclude. Joshua Kimmich was the first name confirmed; Borussia Dortmund striker Deniz Undav (25 goals across all competitions) and the reportedly returning Manuel Neuer were among the headline selections. Germany face USMNT in a pre-tournament friendly on 6 June in Chicago ahead of the World Cup.

Nagelsmann, born 23 July 1987 in Landsberg am Lech, is one of the youngest managers to have taken charge of a major European side. He led Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and then Bayern Munich — where he was sacked mid-season in March 2023 despite a relatively successful run — before the DFB appointed him in September 2023 to restore German football's credibility after two consecutive group-stage exits at World Cups.

Germany have not won a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The 2026 tournament on North American soil carries particular emotional weight after the embarrassments of 2018 and 2022. Nagelsmann's tactical flexibility and relatively young squad give Germany a realistic prospect of reaching the later stages, but public and media expectations remain high and patience is limited.