Key Takeaways:
- Julian Nagelsmann named Finn Dahmen, Nnamdi Collins, and Paul Nebel as first-time call-ups for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Germany will start their qualification campaign with an away fixture in Slovakia on 4 September, followed by a home match against Northern Ireland in Cologne on 7 September
- Marc-André ter Stegen remains sidelined due to injury, with Dahmen joining Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel as goalkeeping options
New Faces in the German Line-up
Julian Nagelsmann has unveiled the German national team’s squad for the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, featuring three players set for their senior international debuts. Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen has earned his first call-up, accompanied by Nnamdi Collins, the Eintracht Frankfurt defender, and Mainz 05 midfielder Paul Nebel.
🇩🇪 Germany's squad for September's World Cup qualifiers pic.twitter.com/KiBD6zG7Le
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) August 27, 2025
Germany Prepared for Group A Favourites Status
Four-time world champions Germany will launch their qualifying quest with a trip to Slovakia on 4 September, prior to hosting Northern Ireland in Cologne three days later. Luxembourg also feature in Group A, with Germany widely regarded as strong favourites to secure a berth at the finals, scheduled to take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
| Player | Club | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Dahmen | Augsburg | Goalkeeper | First senior call-up |
| Nnamdi Collins | Eintracht Frankfurt | Defender | First senior call-up |
| Paul Nebel | Mainz 05 | Midfielder | First senior call-up |
Squad Selection Details and Key Omissions
With Marc-André ter Stegen unavailable through injury, Dahmen joins Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel among the three goalkeeping choices. Notably, Leroy Sané, who concluded his season at Bayern Munich before moving to Turkish side Galatasaray, does not feature in the squad. Among forwards, Julian Nagelsmann included only Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart and Niclas Füllkrug of West Ham United, narrowing the offensive selection to just two options in the 23-man list.
Nagelsmann Confident Despite Injury Setbacks
“We had a few more candidates, some are injured. They will be in the plan for the matches in October. But we are confident in the 23 we have chosen and are counting on good performances,” Nagelsmann said at a press conference.
