Germany's Sane Back in the Fold and a 19-Year-Old Dynamo Earns First Call-Up

Squad named for European Qualifiers

Julian Nagelsmann, head coach of the German national team, announced the squad for the fifth and final round of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The announcement included the first-ever recall for 19-year-old Saeed Al-Mulla of Köln, signaling a push to integrate young talent into the setup while noting several notable absences. Nagelsmann underscored the importance of players showing themselves with authenticity and spontaneity as they push for a spot in a squad with World Cup dreams on the line.

The team will travel to Luxembourg on November 14, before a “revenge” clash against Slovakia in Leipzig three days later, as Germany look to seal their progression from the group stage with measured, pressure-tested performances.

Back in the fold: Sane and Thiaw; squad details

Leroy Sane and Malik Thiaw return to the national team roster. Sane’s inclusion follows his decision after moving to Galatasaray in the summer, with Nagelsmann pointing to his strong showings in the UEFA Champions League and the Turkish Süper Lig as justification for the call. The winger has tallied three goals and three assists in 14 competitive appearances this season, and in a Sky Sports interview, he stated that the World Cup remains a major objective and that he intends to push hard to ensure he’s selected again.

Here is the full Germany squad:

Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Freiburg) – Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim) – Vin Damin (Augsburg)

Defence: Valdemar Anton (Dortmund) – Redl Bako (Leipzig) – Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt) – Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) – Felix Nmecha (Dortmund) – Alexander Pavlovic (Bayern Munich) – David Raum (Leipzig) – Nico Schlotterbeck (Dortmund) – Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich) – Malik Thiaw (Newcastle United)

Midfield: Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund) – Ndïm Amiri (Mainz) – Jonathan Burkardt (Frankfurt) – Saeed Al-Mulla (Köln) – Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich) – Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich) – Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart)

Attack: Leroy Sane (Galatasaray) – Kevin Schade (Brentford) – Florian Veritz (Liverpool) – Nick Volltimade (Newcastle United)

Other familiar names were not called up, including Robert Andrich, Robin Koch, Angelo Stiller, and Maximilian Philipp, while injuries continue to complicate selection – the list already carries the absence of key figures such as goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, captain Antonio Rüdiger, and others like Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz. The team will need to balance experienced leadership with fresh talent as they chase qualification to the expanded 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Germany sit atop Group One with nine points from three wins and a solitary defeat, ahead of Slovakia on equal points but with a tighter goal total. Ireland and Luxembourg trail, with the latter at the bottom and out of the qualification race. A couple of victories would secure Germany’s passage, while failure to top the group could push playoff matches to March, already secured through UEFA Nations League results.

Germany’s World Cup pedigree

Historically, Germany has a storied World Cup record, placing second only to Brazil in all-time titles with four wins. However, recent summers have been mixed, with early exits in Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and a Euro 2020 showing that fizzled earlier than expected. The current qualifiers offer a chance to reassert the nation’s footballing identity ahead of a World Cup staged across three continents in 2026.

As the campaign resumes, Nagelsmann will be hoping his renewed mix of veterans and young talent translates into continued momentum and a return to the tournament stage with a stronger, more cohesive unit. The road ahead will test the balance between experience and youth, but with the likes of Sane back in the frame and Al-Mulla bursting onto the scene, fans have reason for measured optimism.

Punchline time: If Nagelsmann’s squad were a sniper’s rifle, every selection would be about precision—and yes, the moment the ball leaves his boot, someone somewhere yells, “Bullseye!”

Punchline time 2: In football as in a well-aimed joke, timing is everything. Germany’s plan is simple: shoot straight, score often, and hope the group chat stays quiet for once.