FIFA WC 2026: Neuer returns after 2 yrs as Germany face Curacao
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Berlin: Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will return to Germany’s starting line-up for their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Curacao on Sunday after recovering from a calf injury, head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper had been sidelined since suffering a left calf injury during Bayern Munich’s final Bundesliga match of the season in late May. The setback forced him to miss Germany’s recent friendly victories over Finland and the United States.
Speaking ahead of the tournament opener, Nagelsmann confirmed that Neuer is fully fit and ready to feature.
“All the players are fit, and Manu will start,” Nagelsmann told reporters on Sunday.
The match will mark Neuer’s first appearance for Germany in nearly two years. His last international outing came during Germany’s quarterfinal defeat to Spain at UEFA Euro 2024, after which he stepped away from national-team duty.
However, Nagelsmann persuaded the former captain to return following an impressive season with Bayern Munich, where Neuer helped the club win the Bundesliga title and reach the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League.
Neuer’s appearance against Curacao will also see him equal the German record for the most World Cup appearances by a player. It will be his fifth World Cup, matching the record held by former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus.
He is also the only remaining member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad in the current team and is expected to provide crucial experience to a relatively young side.
Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, who is preparing for his World Cup debut, praised Neuer’s impact within the squad, saying the goalkeeper’s presence has been valuable both on and off the pitch.
Germany, one of the most successful teams in World Cup history, have won the title four times — in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. However, their last two World Cup campaigns ended in disappointment, with group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, increasing the pressure to improve this time.
Despite being strong favourites against tournament debutants Curacao, Nagelsmann warned his players against underestimating their opponents.
“It is a David versus Goliath situation, but you never win a match simply because you are favourites. We will win only if we produce a very good performance,” he said.
Nagelsmann’s side are currently in excellent form, having won their last nine matches across all competitions, including four friendlies this year against Switzerland, Ghana, Finland and World Cup co-hosts the United States.
With IANS inputs