Frankfurt — The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. After disappointing group-stage exits in both the 2018 Russia World Cup and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the German national team is determined to finally achieve a respectable performance, with hopes of bringing home a fifth star.
German fans have been asking one question for months: Who will be the starting goalkeeper for Die Mannschaft at the World Cup? Initially, head coach Julian Nagelsmann publicly named Marc-André ter Stegen as the No. 1. However, the Barcelona goalkeeper, currently on loan to Girona, suffered a severe thigh injury in February.
Ter Stegen’s absence has reignited the goalkeeping debate. For a long time, fans and pundits have hoped for the return of Manuel Neuer, the Bayern Munich shot-stopper who announced his retirement from the national team after hosting Euro 2024. Influential figures like Uli Hoeneß and Lothar Matthäus have repeatedly backed the Bayern legend for a comeback. Yet Neuer has remained firm, clearly denying any rumors of his return.
Shortly after ter Stegen’s latest setback, Nagelsmann moved quickly to name a new first-choice goalkeeper: Oliver Baumann. The Hoffenheim keeper has been the starter throughout World Cup qualifying and will shoulder the responsibility during the tournament. For the 35-year-old, this will be his first major international appearance as a starter, having previously served as a backup at Euro 2024.
Behind Baumann, Alexander Nübel has emerged as a strong contender for the second spot. The 29-year-old, currently on loan from Bayern to Stuttgart, earned his third cap for Germany in a March friendly against Ghana (2-1). However, his position could be threatened by Jonas Urbig, who has gradually established himself as Neuer’s successor at Bayern and is expected to receive a national team call-up soon.