Is Manuel Neuer going to the World Cup after all? Directly after the last matchday, the Bayern goalkeeper is no longer ruling out a comeback. A media report heats up the topic further.
16.05.2026, 19:22
16.05.2026, 22:54
dpa
According to a media report, Manuel Neuer will make his comeback to the German national team at this summer's World Cup. As reported by Sky Sport, the FC Bayern goalkeeper is set to return to the DFB squad, provided nothing out of the ordinary happens in the coming days and the 40-year-old does not suffer a serious calf injury in the 5-1 defeat to 1 FC Cologne. Neuer is said to have confirmed his participation in the World Cup in recent days.
Shortly beforehand, Neuer himself had no longer ruled out a possible comeback in the national team before the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA. "It's not an issue for me today," said the Munich captain on Sky after the last Bundesliga game of the season. "I'm totally relaxed about it. We're celebrating the championship today. I have a very important game next week with the DFB Cup final."
Neuer meaningfully: "You don't need to know that"
Neuer concluded his comments in response to the question of whether participation in the World Cup was out of the question with the sentence: "You don't need to know that."
There had recently been speculation that Neuer could return to national coach Julian Nagelsmann's team. There had been no contact with the former Bayern coach in recent days, Neuer reported. "We've been in contact all year, just like with other former coaches and managers. There was nothing special now." Nagelsmann will announce his World Cup squad on May 21.
Matthäus on Neuer's possible World Cup appearance: "More likely yes"
Sky pundit Lothar Matthäus interpreted the statements to mean that the chances of Neuer making the World Cup squad are higher: "For me, yes rather than no," said Matthäus. "For me, Manuel Neuer is the best German goalkeeper and the best should play."
In the last Bundesliga game of the season, Neuer was substituted after an hour for his replacement Jonas Urbig. This was also done with an eye on the DFB Cup final next Saturday against VfB Stuttgart in Berlin, said the veteran. "I felt something in my calf, so I didn't want to take any risks, also because of next week. That's why I preferred to say that I felt something."
On Friday, Neuer extended his contract with FC Bayern by one year until the summer of 2027. From the 2010 World Cup to the 2024 European Championship, he was Germany's number one goalkeeper at every major tournament. He retired after the home tournament two years ago. He is Germany's record keeper with 124 caps. His greatest success was winning the title at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Baumann as a reliable back-up
The goalkeeper had repeatedly and credibly emphasized until the end that his retirement from the national team was set in stone. He had, of course, announced it two years ago on the assumption that Nagelsmann would henceforth rely on Marc-André ter Stegen as number one.
That was indeed the national team coach's plan, but it was ultimately thwarted by ter Stegen's recurring injuries. This opened up an unexpected opportunity for deputy Oliver Baumann. The Hoffenheim man was a reliable back-up throughout World Cup qualifying in the second half of 2025 and was promoted to number one.
