Germany World Cup 2026 team preview: Players to watch, group and squad list
Key takeaways
- The 2014 champions exited in the group stages of the last two World Cups but look a stronger force under Julian Nagelsmann.
- Germany are desperate for a successful World Cup after two spectacular failures – they were knocked out in the group stages in 2018 and 2022.
- They certainly look improved under coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The 2014 champions exited in the group stages of the last two World Cups but look a stronger force under Julian Nagelsmann.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Jamal Musiala will be a key player for Germany at FIFA World Cup 2026 [Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images]By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 31 May 202631 May 2026Previous World Cup appearances: 20 Best performance: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) First appearance: 1934 (Italy) Top goal scorer: Miroslav Klose (16) Most appearances: Lothar Matthaus (25) Player to watch: Florian Wirtz FIFA world ranking: 8
Germany are desperate for a successful World Cup after two spectacular failures – they were knocked out in the group stages in 2018 and 2022.