Germany Wiretap

Germany midfielder Lennart Karl, 18, will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a torn muscle in training Friday, the German Football Association confirmed. RB Leipzig's Assan Ouedraogo, 20, will replace him in the squad.

The injury occurred during Germany's final training session before Saturday's pre-tournament friendly against the United States in Chicago.

"Unfortunately Lenni injured himself today in training. We need to wait on what happens with that and to be honest, it didn't look so good," said coach Julian Nagelsmann.

World Cup rules permit Germany to call up a replacement in cases of serious injury or illness until 24 hours before their tournament opener against Curacao on June 14.

Karl had emerged as one of the standout young players in any World Cup squad following a strong season at Bayern Munich, where he became the club's youngest goal-scorer in Champions League history. He scored nine goals for Bayern last season and made his Germany debut in March, earning three caps including a starting role in last week's 4-0 victory over Finland.

Nagelsmann also confirmed Friday that 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will not feature against the United States due to a calf injury sustained at Bayern last month. Neuer, who retired from international football after Euro 2024 before accepting a recall last month, would enter the World Cup without having played for Germany in nearly two years. Oliver Baumann remains the team's first-choice goalkeeper.

France enters the 2026 World Cup with the most valuable roster in the tournament at $1.76 billion, according to squad valuation data from Transfermarkt, with England ($1.507 billion) and Spain ($1.449 billion) ranked second and third.

Portugal, Germany, and Brazil round out the six nations surpassing the $1 billion threshold in total squad value.

Spain's Lamine Yamal and Norway's Erling Haaland share the top individual valuation at $238 million. Haaland alone accounts for roughly 33 percent of Norway's total $691 million squad value. Kylian Mbappe ranks third among individual players and leads France's roster.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ranks seventh among individual players but will not appear in the tournament after Georgia failed to qualify.

2026 World Cup Squad Valuations

1. France: $1.760 billion
2. England: $1.507 billion
3. Spain: $1.449 billion
4. Portugal: $1.173 billion
5. Germany: $1.148 billion
6. Brazil: $1.049 billion
7. Netherlands: $962.78 million
8. Argentina: $940.13 million
9. Norway: $691.15 million
10. Belgium: $624.34 million
11. Ivory Coast: $610.54 million
12. Morocco: $561.43 million
13. Senegal: $543.84 million
14. Turkiye: $543.61 million
15. Sweden: $492.18 million
16. Uruguay: $466.10 million
17. Croatia: $448.16 million
18. United States: $438.90 million
19. Ecuador: $432.63 million
20. Switzerland: $382.49 million
21. Colombia: $350.46 million
22.Japan: $320.74 million
23. Algeria: $295.44 million
24. Austria: $278.53 million
25. Ghana: $269.50 million
26. Canada: $226.15 million
27. Mexico: $220.63 million
28. Czechia: $216.41 million
29. Scotland: $195.79 million
30. Paraguay: $176.70 million
31. Bosnia-Herzegovina: $174.34 million
32. DR Congo: $165.49 million
33. South Korea: $159.91 million
34. Egypt: $133.95 million
35. Uzbekistan: $98.13 million
36. Australia: $89.07 million
37. Tunisia: $80.44 million
38. Haiti: $64.29 million
39. Cape Verde: $62.68 million
40. South Africa: $56.64 million
41. Saudi Arabia: $46.78 million
42. Panama: $39.73 million
43. New Zealand: $39.50 million
44. Iran: $36.86 million
45. Curacao: $29.65 million
46. Iraq: $24.38 million
47. Jordan: $23.58 million
48. Qatar: $22.92 million

Florian Wirtz produced what he called his finest international performance Friday, contributing to all four goals in Germany's 4-3 friendly victory over Switzerland in Basel. The 22-year-old Liverpool forward scored twice and recorded two assists in a result that offered encouragement to a German side still working through considerable uncertainty ahead of the summer World Cup.

His opening goal arrived from a corner on the left, a curling right-footed delivery that swerved over the defense, cleared the goalkeeper's reach and clipped the crossbar before settling in the net.

"I'd be lying if I said I meant it to go exactly there," Wirtz said after the match, "but I'll take it."

His second strike, an intentional finish into the top corner from the edge of the box, was less ambiguous. His two assists included a far-post delivery that found Jonathan Tah's head and a precise through ball that Serge Gnabry lifted over Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

"That was probably my best international match," Wirtz said.

The result was encouraging given the broader questions surrounding Germany. The squad enters the World Cup without Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan and Thomas Muller, all retired after Euro 2024. Germany has not faced a major tournament without that group since Euro 2008. Jamal Musiala's fitness remains a concern, with coach Julian Nagelsmann noting this week that "time is running out" for the injured playmaker.

Defensive vulnerability also surfaced Friday. Switzerland converted three times, exposing a backline that will need to tighten considerably. Germany has been eliminated at the group stage of the past two World Cups.

At club level, Wirtz's debut season at Liverpool following his £116 million ($154 million) move from Bayer Leverkusen has been uneven. His role has shifted repeatedly under coach Arne Slot between a central No. 10 position and wider assignments.

For Germany, however, the picture is notably clearer. Wirtz has established himself as the team's creative anchor, and Friday's display reinforced that standing ahead of a tournament where his country desperately needs a reliable focal point.

Germany must win their remaining World Cup qualifiers after a shocking 2-0 loss to Slovakia last month put their tournament participation in jeopardy. The four-time champions face Luxembourg on Friday and Northern Ireland on Monday.

The qualifying format features four-team groups where only the winner qualifies automatically. Germany must win all remaining matches and overtake Slovakia on goal difference. A second-place finish would send them into a four-team playoff bracket competing for one World Cup spot.

Germany had never lost a World Cup qualifying game away from home until the Slovakia defeat. The team has only missed two World Cups: the 1930 inaugural tournament and 1950 when they were excluded following World War II.

Germany has not played a World Cup knockout game since winning the 2014 final. The team suffered group-stage exits in both 2018 and 2022 despite having top-class individual talent.

"Everyone expects of us that we'll beat every opponent 5-0, 6-0 but that's no longer possible," midfielder Nadiem Amiri said, per German agency dpa. "The times have simply changed. Everyone's good, everyone can hold their own."

Julian Nagelsmann's squad has been hit hard by injuries. Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has not played all year. Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger is out with a muscle injury, while Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala likely won't return until the new year.

Newcastle's Nick Woltemade has been dealing with a flu-like illness this week and trained separately on Wednesday. New call-up Nathaniel Brown, a left back from Eintracht Frankfurt who is also eligible for the United States, faces pressure after teammate Nnamdi Collins was dropped following errors in the Slovakia loss.

Nagelsmann addressed speculation about Thomas Müller joining his coaching staff but said the Vancouver Whitecaps player remains under contract through winter 2026.

Joshua Kimmich has been named captain of Germany following the retirement of Ilkay Gundogan from international duty. Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz have been named vice-captains.

Kimmich hasn't been the permanent captain for Bayern or the national team before, but he has often stepped into the role when other players have been injured or unavailable. 

Germany has also lost Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos to retirements. 

Thomas Muller has confirmed his retirement from Germany duty, ending his career with 131 caps and 45 goals. Muller is third in all-time appearances for Germany's men's team, trailing only Miroslav Klose (137) and Lothar Matthäus (150).

"It always made me very proud to play for my country. We celebrated together and sometimes shed a tear together," Müller said in a farewell video on social media.

"When I had the privilege of making my first international appearance, I would never have dreamed of all this. I would like to say thank you to all the fans and my Germany teammates for their support over the years. Take the enthusiasm and joy of this year's Euros with you."

Mueller joins Toni Kroos in leaving Germany following the Euros.

Toni Kroos will retire from soccer following the Euro 2024. Kroos' final club match will be in this season's Champions League for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund.

"July 17th, 2014 -- the day of my presentation at Real Madrid, the day that changed my life," Kroos said on Instagram.

"My life as a footballer -- but especially as a person. It was the start of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world. After 10 years, at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end.

"At the same time this decision means that my career as an active footballer will end this summer after the European Championship.

"As I have always said: Real Madrid is and will be my last club. I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own."

Kroos, 34, won the World Cup in 2014 with Germany and won three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich before four La Liga titles with Real Madrid. Kroos has also won the Champions League once with Bayern and four times with Real Madrid.

The German Football Association has announced they will be ending their decades-long partnership with Adidas and will move to Nike beginning in 2027.

The DFB’s contract with Nike will run until 2034.

“We are grateful to be able to look forward to an economically stable future again as an association thanks to Nike’s commitment,” DFB treasurer Stephan Grunwald said.

“The award to the future supplier partner Nike is the result of a transparent and non-discriminatory tender,” DFB chairman Holger Blask added.

Franz Beckenbauer has passed away at the age of 78.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family," the family said.

"We ask that you allow us to grieve in silence and refrain from asking any questions."

Beckenbauer won the 1972 and 1976 Ballon d'Or awards and was named Germany's Footballer of the Century in 2000. 

Germany has fired Hansi Flick as manager following their 4-1 defeat by Japan on Saturday. 

The former striker Rudi Völler, alongside Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner, will take charge for the friendly against France on Tuesday.

Germany chose not to fire Flick after a disappointing World Cup where they were eliminated int he group stage.

“The bodies [of the DFB] shared the same view that the national team now needs a new impulse,” the DFB president, Bernd Neuendorf, said in a statement. “With next year’s Euro in sight we need enthusiastic mood and confidence.”