Berlin: Germany is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup, with the group stage draw revealing that they will face debutant Curacao in their opening match in Houston. The following matches will be against Ivory Coast in Toronto and Ecuador in New Jersey, the venue for the final.
According to Deutsche Welle, Germany is among the 12 European nations that have qualified for the World Cup, which has expanded from 32 to 48 teams. As the tournament approaches, head coach Julian Nagelsmann is set to evaluate his squad through confirmed home friendlies against Switzerland in Basel on March 27, Ghana in Stuttgart on March 30, and Finland in Mainz on May 31. A final preparation match will be against the USA, one of the tournament hosts.
The squad announcement is expected in the last week of May 2026, although it remains uncertain if the squad sizes will increase from 26 to 30 players. This consideration by FIFA comes in light of the expanded number of teams and matches, which will rise to 104 from 64. Germany’s strategy for unveiling their roster is eagerly anticipated, following previous memorable announcements.
Germany’s chances in the tournament appear moderate, following back-to-back group stage exits in previous World Cups. Concerns about squad depth and player fitness remain, particularly with stars like Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, and Marc-Andr© ter Stegen currently recovering from injuries. However, the team’s recent victory in Leipzig has boosted optimism, with fans hopeful that the players can maintain their form and fitness leading into the tournament.
This article, contributed by Thomas Klein, is part of DW Sports’ Best of 2025 series, revisiting standout features from the past year and updated to include the World Cup draw results from earlier in December.