Berlin: Germany’s national football team is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup with a blend of anticipation and strategic planning. The recent World Cup draw revealed that Germany will compete against debutant Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador in the group stage, with matches scheduled in Houston, Toronto, and New Jersey, respectively. These challenges mark the beginning of Germany’s quest for a resurgence on the global stage after two consecutive group-stage exits in previous tournaments.
According to Deutsche Welle, Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann is focused on finalizing his squad amid upcoming friendlies. The team will face Switzerland in Basel on March 27, Ghana in Stuttgart on March 30, and Finland in Mainz on May 31. A critical friendly against co-hosts USA is also on the horizon, serving as a final preparation before the tournament kicks off on June 11. The squad announcement is expected in the last week of May, with FIFA considering an increase in squad sizes due to the expanded tournament for
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Germany’s recent performances suggest an outside chance for success, contingent on key players like Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, and Marc-André ter Stegen recovering from injuries and regaining form. Nagelsmann’s successful qualification campaign provides a foundation, but concerns over squad depth persist. A recent victory in Leipzig has bolstered optimism, with hopes that individual excellence can translate into collective success during the World Cup.
Thomas Klein’s reporting for Deutsche Welle in the Best of 2025 series highlights the evolving dynamics of Germany’s preparations as the team aims to rectify past shortcomings and achieve success on football’s biggest stage.