Report: Neuer to be Germany's number one at 2026 World Cup
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be Germany's number one during the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Bild newspaper said on Monday. According to the report, coach Julian Nagelsmann has already informed Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann that he has been demoted and that 2014 World Cup champion Neuer will be the national team's starting keeper. Baumann reportedly assured the coach that he would be available to the squad as a backup goalkeeper.
Nagelsmann is to announce his 26-man squad on Thursday and Neuer would be the biggest surprise. The Bayern player retired from the national team after Euro 2024. Former Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen (now at Girona) was set to become his successor, but was plagued by several long-term injuries.
Nagelsmann eventually handed the position to Baumann, who was the starter during the World Cup qualifiers. Nagelsmann and Neuer have been recently asked about the matter but so far refused to make any clear statement. Neuer suffered a calf injury in the last Bundesliga match of the season against Cologne on last weekend, but Bild said the injury is not serious and that he will likely be available for the German Cup final against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
Bayern said on Sunday that Neuer would need to "scale back his workloard for the time being. "