Overview
- Julian Nagelsmann announced the 26-man squad at the DFB campus and confirmed Manuel Neuer as the planned number-one goalkeeper, with Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel named as backups.
- Nagelsmann said he told Baumann in March that he would contact Neuer, a move he described as difficult that has nevertheless prompted criticism of the timing and style of communication around the selection.
- Jonas Urbig will travel as a training-only goalkeeper and cannot play, leaving Baumann as the primary available backup if Neuer is injured or unavailable.
- Several notable players were left out of the final list, including Said El Mala and Matthias Ginter, and those omissions have generated strong fan anger and heated media commentary.
- The squad mixes experience and youth — including 18-year-old Lennart Karl — and now moves to two warm-up matches and a shortened camp before flying to the United States for the World Cup, with observers warning the selection debate could affect team cohesion and public trust in Nagelsmann.