Germany team profile - FIFA World Cup 2026
In the build-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada and Mexico, we shine a spotlight on Germany.
FIFA World Ranking: 10
Confederation: UEFA
Who is Germany’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Germany’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026 is the youngest at the tournament with former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann in charge of Die Mannschaft, having taken over from Hansi Flick after FIFA World Cup 2022.
Who is Germany’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Germany’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich. The versatile defensive midfielder, who has over 100 caps for his country, took on the captaincy in September 2024, following on from Germany’s quarter-final exit at UEFA EURO 2024.
How many times have Germany participated in a FIFA World Cup before 2026?
20 – 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
What is Germany’s best performance at a FIFA World Cup?
Winners – 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
How did Germany qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Germany began the group stage of UEFA qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026 in shaky fashion as they succumbed to a 2-0 loss in Bratislava against Slovakia in the opening game of Group A.
They did, though, then go on to win five games on the bounce to eventually leapfrog the Slovakians at the top of the group and qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026.
In those five games, Julian Nagelsmann’s side conceded just one further goal – in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Qualification was secured on November 17, 2025 with a 6-0 demolition of Slovakia in Leipzig. Leroy Sane scored twice in that game, whilst there were also goals from Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry, Ridle Baku and Assen Ouedraogo.
Who are Germany’s star players?
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) is perhaps the player most at the top of his game in the Germany squad with Julian Nagelsmann also making a point of selecting experience, with Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) selected after coming out of international retirement alongside the likes of Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid) and Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich).
The attacking midfield position is where Germany really do thrive, though, with the mercurial Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) alongside Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), not to mention the likes of Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Kai Havertz (Arsenal) and Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United) also competing to be in the front four of a likely 4-2-3-1.
Who is in Germany’s group at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Germany
Curacao
Cote d’Ivoire
Ecuador
Germany’s Group E fixtures are as follows:
Germany v Curacao: Sunday June 14, 2026 – 1:00pm ET, 6:00pm UK
Germany v Cote d’Ivoire: Saturday June 20, 2026 - 4:00pm ET, 9:00pm UK
Ecuador v Germany: Thursday June 25, 2026 – 9:00pm ET, 4:00pm UK
All kick-off dates are based on a local kick-off time
Where is Germany’s base camp at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Expert prediction for Germany’s chances at FIFA World Cup 2026
Since winning their fourth world title in Brazil in 2014, Germany have succumbed to fairly humiliating group stage exits in each of the last two editions of the FIFA World Cup.
A round of 16 win against Denmark at UEFA EURO 2024 is Germany’s only knockout victory in major tournament football in the past decade since reaching the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2016.
As a result, simply getting themselves out of their group and going from there would be a start for Nagelsmann’s side at FIFA World Cup 2026. With a fair bit of quality, and now a lot of experience in their squad, they should breeze past Curacao before tougher, but still manageable clashes against Cote d’Ivoire and Ecuador.
That said, this isn’t a formidable German side of the past and despite the experience of the likes of Neuer, Rudiger, Kimmich and Goretzka, as well as the quality of Musiala and Wirtz; there is the feeling that this version of Germany can be a bit naive – and that will be a concern when it comes to knockout football in the heat of a North American summer.
What round will Germany reach at FIFA World Cup 2026? Round of 16
