Germany wonderkid, Lennart Karl, will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a torn muscle bundle in his right thigh during a training session, dealing a major blow to Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann’s squad plans.
The 18-year-old, the youngest player named in Nagelsmann’s provisional roster, had already accumulated over 20 appearances at club level.
He made his senior international debut in March during friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana, before also featuring in a pre-tournament warm-up match against Finland.
Karl picked up the injury in training ahead of Germany’s final friendly before their World Cup opener. Medical assessments later confirmed the severity of the tear, ruling him out of contention for the tournament.
His absence comes as a setback for Germany, who are aiming to reassert themselves among football’s global elite after a series of underwhelming performances at recent major competitions.
“Lennart suffered an injury in training and, honestly, it doesn’t look good. We have to wait for the diagnosis and then decide whether he can realistically make the World Cup or if we need to call up a replacement,” Nagelsmann said before the final decision was confirmed.
After Karl was officially ruled out, Nagelsmann moved quickly to bring in Assan Ouédraogo as his replacement for the tournament.
“With Assan Ouédraogo we are now getting a player who, similar to Lenny, had a great start with us,” Nagelsmann said. “He is also highly talented and is meant to play here boldly and freely.”
Nagelsmann also provided an update on veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, confirming that he will not be available in time for Germany’s match against the United States, though there is optimism he could return for the opening World Cup fixture against Curaçao on June 14.
Neuer, a 2014 World Cup winner, was unexpectedly recalled in May, nearly two years after announcing his international retirement.
“At his age, he doesn’t need a warm-up phase,” Nagelsmann said of Neuer. “He knows how to handle high-pressure situations.
“He’s on his way to peak fitness. However, we don’t want to take any risks tomorrow.”
Germany begin their World Cup campaign on June 14 against Curaçao, before taking on the Ivory Coast on June 20, and concluding their group stage fixtures against Ecuador on June 25.
