It may not be fair to say that the Germany national football team playing in the 2026 World Cup is weak, but in terms of German standards, this iteration of Die Mannschaft is not up to the usual standards. This team is aging, and many of the star players aren’t in great form. Plus, Germany lacks a true goal-scoring striker at the top to bang the ball home. Still, there is a lot of talent and experience on this squad, and if players like Florian Wirtz step up and score, Germany could make a run.
Florian Wirtz, Attacking Midfielder, Liverpool (England)
The Germany national team heading to the 2026 World Cup is heavy with Bayern Munich players, as you’ll see below. However, their tournament hopes may hinge on 23-year-old Florian Wirtz. The German star moved from Bayern Leverkusen last summer for over £100 million and didn’t quite deliver on that investment.
Wirtz wasn’t bad by any means, but after back-to-back double-digit goal and double-digit assist seasons in the Bundesliga, he only posted five goals and four assists in the Premier League, though he also added a goal and four more assists in the Champions League.
If Germany goes far in this World Cup, it will mean that Wirtz took his game to the next level. Manager Julian Nagelsmann will likely deploy Wrtz on the wing, instead of his usual attacking midfielder role, which should free him up to attack the next more.
Manuel Neuer, Goalkeeper, Bayern Munich (Germany)
At 40, this will be Manuel Neuer’s fifth World Cup between the pipes for Germany. The goalkeeper retired from international competition after the Euros in 2024, but after 37 appearances for Bayern Munich this past season, Neuer returns to take the job as Germany’s No. 1 ahead of 36-year-old Olive Baumann, who shepherded the team through qualifying.
Neuer missed Bayern’s DFB Cup final with a calf injury and still hasn’t suited up for the Germany national team. Still, Nagelsmann has the old-timer penciled in as his starter for this tournament.
With no young phenom to take his place, Neuer will once again man the net for the Germans on the biggest stage. Going with Neuer worked out this season for Bayern, which won the league and the DFB Cup for the first time in six seasons, and made it to the semis of the Champions League, losing to the eventual victors, PSG.
Clinging to the past isn’t often a great strategy in the World Cup, but without any other options, the Germans are all in on their legendary keeper.
Jamal Musiala, Attacking Midfielder, Bayern Munich (Germany)
Manning the middle of the attack for Die Mannschaft is Jamal Musiala, a 23-year-old superstar who didn’t have his best season after coming back from a fractured fibula suffered just over a year ago. The young playmaker did make 24 appearances for Bayern in all competitions since returning in January, but his five goals and six assists didn’t nearly measure up to past seasons.
Musiala will have to drive a lot of the team’s attack, and without a true No. 9 at striker, this No. 10 will have to both distribute to get others involved and create offense for himself.
Again, it’s hard to argue with the results for Bayern Munich last season, but the German powerhouse plays far inferior competition to the national team, and they also feature Harry Kane, one of the world’s best strikers, ahead of Musiala. Now the youngster is on much more of an island and will have to find his pre-leg-injury form for the team ot advance.
Joshua Kimmich, Right Back, Bayern Munich (Germany)
The Germany national team captain is a defensive midfielder by trade, but he’ll move to fullback for this World Cup in the hopes that the team can build out of the back and create offense down the wings. Joshua Kimmich is an incredibly technically sound player, but does he move the needle as legends like Lothar Matthäus, Michael Ballack, or even fellow midfielder-turned-fullback Philipp Lahm did?
The answer is probably no, but again, this World Cup is a chance for Germans with borderline legacies to push their national team narrative one way or the other. At 31, this is Kimmich’s last chance to step up and help carry his squad on his back. That is harder from the wing than it is from the center of the pitch, but on a team looking for a leader, the opportunity will be there.
Kimmich is intelligent, versatile, and technical. If he can take those qualities up a notch and quarterback the German offense this World Cup, the team could make some noise. The captain needs to just take control and actually do that, though.
Lennart Karl, Wing, Bayern Munich (Germany)
While the rest of the German stars to know ahead of the 2026 World Cup are veterans or established young stars looking to regain their form, Lennart Karl is a player who could become a breakout star of this tournament. The 18-year-old burst on the scene this season with Bayern Munich, providing nine goals and eight assists throughout 40 appearances in all competitions.
Now, Karl will likely either start on the right wing for Germany, opposite Florian Wirtz on the left, or come off the bench as a super-sub in the second half. On a team devoid of a true hit man, Karl has the opportunity to be that offensive weapon. With Kimmich backing him up and Musiala in the middle, the teenager should get some good service to go forward and create chances.
An electric youngster like Karl is the exact type of player who could make the 2026 World Cup his true coming-out party, and if he does, Germany might just be OK after all.
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