Germany at the World Cup 2026
Germany arrive at the 2026 World Cup chasing redemption after the worst two-tournament stretch in their senior international football history — group-stage exits at Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, followed by a quarter-final exit at Euro 2024 on home soil. Julian Nagelsmann, the 38-year-old former Bayern Munich coach appointed in September 2023, has built the most balanced squad since the 2014 World Cup-winning generation.
The creative engine is the youngest in the tournament: Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen (also Liverpool-bound for summer 2026, £127m fee already agreed), 22, plays as the central No. 10. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), 22, attacks from the left. Leroy Sané on the right and Kai Havertz as the centre-forward. Joshua Kimmich captains the side from a deep-lying midfielder position — his first tournament as captain, replacing the retired Ilkay Gündogan.
Defensively, Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) and Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen) form the centre-back pair. Marc-André ter Stegen finally has the goalkeeper jersey after years behind Manuel Neuer (now retired internationally). The defensive ride was the structural problem at Euro 2024; Nagelsmann has addressed it through personnel changes rather than tactical revolution.
Germany are based at NRG Stadium in Houston for the group stage. Their group is one of the most asymmetric at the tournament — Curaçao (debutants, smallest population ever to qualify), Ivory Coast (AFCON 2024 champions), and Ecuador (CONMEBOL's defensive specialists). The market expects Germany to top the group comfortably.
Outright odds — Germany to win World Cup 2026
Group E fixtures
All three group-stage matches for Germany at World Cup 2026 with current odds from our partner books.
Squad & predicted XI
ter Stegen · Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt · Andrich, Goretzka · Sané, Wirtz, Musiala · Havertz
Formation: 4-2-3-1 · Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
| Player | Position | Club | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Kimmich | Defensive mid (captain) | Bayern Munich | 100 | 9 |
| Florian Wirtz | Attacking midfielder | Bayer Leverkusen → Liverpool 2026 | 32 | 8 |
| Jamal Musiala | Attacking midfielder | Bayern Munich | 35 | 9 |
| Kai Havertz | Centre-forward | Arsenal | 53 | 20 |
| Leroy Sané | Right winger | Galatasaray | 73 | 16 |
| Antonio Rüdiger | Centre-back | Real Madrid | 84 | 4 |
| Jonathan Tah | Centre-back | Bayer Leverkusen | 40 | 1 |
| Marc-André ter Stegen | Goalkeeper | Barcelona | 47 | 0 |
| Robert Andrich | Defensive midfielder | Bayer Leverkusen | 23 | 2 |
| Niclas Füllkrug | Forward (back-up) | West Ham United | 23 | 13 |
How Germany qualified for World Cup 2026
Germany qualified for the 2026 World Cup via UEFA Group A, winning six of their eight matches with one draw and one loss. They beat Hungary 4-2 in Budapest (a result that the Bild called 'Nagelsmann's defining win'), defeated Switzerland 3-0 in Munich, and lost 1-0 to the Netherlands in Amsterdam (the only competitive defeat of the cycle).
Prior to qualifying, Germany's Euro 2024 home tournament ended in disappointment — a 2-1 extra-time quarter-final loss to Spain in Stuttgart. Toni Kroos retired from international football immediately after the tournament. Manuel Neuer followed in August 2024. The squad has been rebuilt around Wirtz, Musiala, Tah and Rüdiger.
In March 2026 friendlies, Germany drew 1-1 with France in Berlin (Musiala scored), beat Ghana 5-1 in Frankfurt (Havertz scored twice), and beat Saudi Arabia 3-0 in a closed-doors training match. The form trajectory is solid but the squad lacks the depth at striker that Karim Adeyemi (omitted, broke his foot in April) would have provided.
World Cup history
Germany (and previously West Germany) have won the World Cup four times — 1954 (Bern, 3-2 over Hungary, 'Miracle of Bern'), 1974 (home, 2-1 over Netherlands), 1990 (Rome, 1-0 over Argentina), and 2014 (Maracanã, 1-0 over Argentina in extra time with Mario Götze's winner). They are the only team in the Open era to win four World Cup finals across two distinct national identities.
| Year | Host | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Qatar | Group stage exit (lost to Japan, beat Costa Rica, drew Spain) |
| 2018 | Russia | Group stage exit (defending champions, lost to Mexico and South Korea) |
| 2014 | Brazil | 🏆 Champions (beat Argentina 1-0 in final, 7-1 over hosts in SF) |
| 2010 | South Africa | Third place |
| 2006 | Germany | Third place (home tournament) |
| 2002 | Japan/South Korea | Runners-up (lost to Brazil 2-0 in final) |
| 1990 | Italy | 🏆 Champions (West Germany, beat Argentina 1-0) |
| 1986 | Mexico | Runners-up (West Germany, lost to Argentina 3-2) |
| 1982 | Spain | Runners-up (West Germany) |
| 1974 | West Germany | 🏆 Champions (beat Netherlands 2-1 at home) |
| 1954 | Switzerland | 🏆 Champions (West Germany, beat Hungary 3-2 'Miracle of Bern') |
| Player | Position | Club | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miroslav Klose | All-time top scorer (retired 2014) | Retired | 137 | 71 |
| Gerd Müller | Striker (1966-1974) | Retired | 62 | 68 |
| Lukas Podolski | Forward (2004-2017) | Retired | 130 | 49 |
| Rudi Völler | Striker (1982-1994) | Retired | 90 | 47 |
| Lothar Matthäus | Most-capped (1980-2000) | Retired | 150 | 23 |
| Manuel Neuer | Goalkeeper (retired international 2024) | Retired (intl) | 124 | 0 |
FAQ
Who is Germany's coach at the 2026 World Cup?
Julian Nagelsmann, the 38-year-old former Bayern Munich head coach appointed in September 2023. This is his second tournament with Germany after the 2024 Euro home tournament, where Germany lost 2-1 in extra time of the quarter-finals to Spain. Nagelsmann's predecessor Hansi Flick was sacked after a 4-1 defeat to Japan in September 2023.
Is Toni Kroos in Germany's 2026 World Cup squad?
No. Toni Kroos retired from international football in July 2024 immediately after Germany's Euro 2024 quarter-final exit to Spain. He also retired from club football the same summer, ending his career as a Real Madrid Champions League winner. His midfield role has been inherited by Robert Andrich and Leon Goretzka.
Who is Germany's youngest player at World Cup 2026?
Florian Wirtz at 22, alongside Jamal Musiala at 22 (born one month apart). They are the central creative pair in Nagelsmann's 4-2-3-1, and arguably the most exciting young German attacking generation since Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira, and Mario Götze emerged in 2010-2014.
What group is Germany in at the World Cup 2026?
Germany is in Group E alongside Curaçao (population 156,115 — smallest country ever to qualify), Ivory Coast (AFCON 2024 champions), and Ecuador (CONMEBOL second-place). Germany are clear group favourites and play all three matches at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
What are the odds on Germany to win World Cup 2026?
Germany are sixth or seventh favourites at consensus outright odds around 13.0. The market reflects ongoing concerns about the back-to-back group-stage exits at Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, but also the genuine quality of the rebuilt Wirtz-Musiala generation.