Germany Names 23-Man Squad With Three Newcomers For 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann has announced a 23-man squad for the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, featuring three debutants—goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, defender Nnamdi Collins, and midfielder Paul Nebel—all of whom have excelled in youth teams. The squad omits key injured players such as Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, and Nico Schlotterbeck, while also leaving out Leroy Sané, who recently transferred to Galatasaray and must prove himself in the Turkish league to earn a recall. The team will begin their campaign against Slovakia and Northern Ireland, with the group also including Luxembourg, and Nagelsmann emphasized the ambition to progress with dominance in qualification despite not necessarily winning by large margins. Veterans like Antonio Rüdiger and Angelo Stiller return from injury, while forwards Nick Woltemade and Niclas Füllkrug lead the attack. This squad selection reflects Nagelsmann's focus on rejuvenation and maintaining Germany’s strong footballing tradition as they aim to secure direct qualification for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.