Germany 2026 World Cup preview: Odds, key players and predictions

• Qualification record: 5 wins - 0 draws - 1 loss

• Goals for / against: 16 / 3

After a concerning defeat to Slovakia in their opening World Cup qualifier, Germany were pretty much perfect from that moment, winning their remaining five games to top UEFA Qualification Group A.

After that 2-0 defeat, they conceded only one more goal across the five games and scored 16 goals, including a 6-0 demolition of Slovakia in the return fixture, with Nagelsmann's impact starting to show ahead of the World Cup campaign.

Germany are the joint-second most successful nation at the World Cup with four titles and they can go level with record-holders Brazil in five if they win another this summer.

Die Mannschaft's first came back in 1954, before winning a second in 1974 and another in 1990. Their most recent glory came in Brazil in 2014, when a Mario Goetze winner saw them beat Argentina to win their fourth.

As previously mentioned, World Cups have been a sorry tale since that 2014 campaign, crashing out in the groups at Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Nagelsmann has opted for experience with his 2026 World Cup squad, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer coming out of retirement after two years to return to the international fold.

The likes of Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger and Leon Goretzka further bolster that experience, but Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz - both of whom are potential Golden Ball candidates - represent two exciting attacking options, while 18-year-old Lennart Karl has enjoyed a stunning Bayern Munich breakthrough and could establish himself as a household name at this World Cup.

Some intriguing names will compete for the starting striker role, with Arsenal forward Kai Havertz likely the favoured choice over Newcastle's Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav of Stuttgart.

Manager: Julian Nagelsmann

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United)

Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)

Ladbrokes are predicting Germany to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation for their opening game against Curacao on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

• GK: Manuel Neuer

• RB: Joshua Kimmich

• CB: Jonathan Tah

• CB: Nico Schlotterbeck

• LB: David Raum

• CM: Aleksandar Pavlovic

• CM: Leon Goretzka

• RM: Leroy Sane

• CAM: Jamal Musiala

• LM: Florian Wirtz

• ST: Kai Havertz

Germany are strong favourites to top Group E as they prepare to face Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

Curacao are preparing to appear at their first ever World Cup and are the underdogs, with Ivory Coast hoping to progress from the group stage for the first time after three failed previous attempts.

Ecuador, who Germany face in their final group game, represent their biggest threat - but even they have only ever reached the last 16 once before in 2006.

Check out our in-depth preview for World Cup Group E, including the latest odds, fixtures and predictions.

After a tumultuous period for the German side at major tournaments in 2018, 2021 and 2022, an encouraging Euro 2024 has restored from positivity and an encouraging World Cup qualification campaign suggests they may be on the up once again.

Nagelsmann has some of European football's finest players at his fingertips but the question remains as to whether the ex-Bayern coach has the know-how to go deep in international tournament football.

Unlike the last two, the 2026 World Cup won't be a disaster for Germany, but with joint favourites France looking likely to be a last-16 opponent, that is where we think they'll bow out.

Prediction: Last 16 exit

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All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.

View the latest World Cup 2026 odds.