Germany compete in Group Five of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Record:
-
Best World Cup finish: Champions in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014
-
Last World Cup appearance: 2022 (eliminated in group stage)
-
FIFA ranking: 10
-
Nickname: Die Mannschaft (The Team)
-
Top clubs: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund
Qualification: To secure their place at a World Cup for the 21st time in 23 editions, Germany — depleted by injuries throughout qualifying — had to wait until their final qualifying match in late November in European Group One, winning emphatically against Slovakia (6–0) in Leipzig.
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann was appointed in September 2023, replacing Hansi Flick just months before Germany hosted Euro 2024. Despite a quarter-final exit to Spain (2–1 after extra time), Nagelsmann impressed sufficiently to have his contract extended through Euro 2028. The youngest coach in Bundesliga history with Hoffenheim (aged 29 in February 2016), he previously managed Leipzig (2019–2021) and Bayern Munich (2021–2023). Now 38, his main challenge remains stabilising the defence.
Star player: At 40, Manuel Neuer is preparing for his fifth World Cup and ninth major tournament including four European Championships. The 2014 world champion had announced his international retirement after Euro 2024 on home soil, but was recalled by Nagelsmann as first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Oliver Baumann. With Bayern, Neuer ended the second half of the season alternating between high-level performances in the Champions League — against Real Madrid in the quarter-final first leg and PSG in the semi-final second leg — and a persistent left calf injury.
Ambitions: Germany are coming off two humiliating group-stage exits in 2018 in Russia (as defending champions) and 2022 in Qatar. The immediate aim is simply to reach the Round of 16. Should both Germany and France top their groups, the two sides could meet in the last 16 on 4 July in Philadelphia.