Germany announces squad in preparation for the two friendlies in the final international break before the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the roster for the tournament gets clearer. Die Mannschaft will take on fellow World Cup sides Switzerland in Basel on 28th March 2026 and Ghana back at home in Stuttgart on 31st March 2026 as Julian Nagelsmann tests the readiness of his squad ahead of the global event in Canada, USA and Mexico this summer. However, the manager has been put into the scanner for some of the decisions he has made selecting the squad which he wishes to hit the mark in these preparatory friendlies.
His side secured qualification to their 21st World Cup in history, most by any team after Brazil, last year but not without a difficult start to the qualifying campaign. They surprisingly lost 2-0 to Slovakia in Bratislava after also being stunned by Portugal in the semifinals of the Nations League and then losing to France in the third-place game earlier but found their composure in the remaining games. Germany got their revenge with a 6-0 thrashing of the Falcons at home in the final qualifying group to secure direct qualification. They will face debutants Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in their World Cup group.
Germany squad for March Friendlies
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nubel, Jonas Urbig
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Mallick Thiaw, Josha Vagnoman
Midfielders: Pascal Gross, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Anton Stach, Leon Goretzka, Felix Nmencha, Florian Wirtz
Wingers/Forwards: Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Lennart Karl, Nick Woltemade, Leroy Sane, Kevin Schade, Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling
Head Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
The squad selection for Germany by Nagelsmann for the friendlies in the March international break brought a lot of debate considering the personnel that got in and those who were left out. Irrespective of his form at Galatasaray, Leroy Sane gets the nod again in the squad after contributing to four goals in the last two fixtures of the qualifiers, including a brace and an assist in the 6-0 demolition of Slovakia in the final game, helping Die Mannschaft secure direct berth to the 2026 World Cup back in November last year. Brentford's Kevin Schade also gets in ahead of the Dortmund duo Maximilian Bier and Karim Adeyemi.
However, an inclusion that nobody could disagree upon is Bayern Munich's teenage sensation Lennart Karl receiving his maiden call up. The 18 year old is experiencing a breakout season at his club, having also become the youngest goalscorer for the side in the Champions League only a day before his call up. Also hoping to make his debut is Karl's club teammate Jonas Urbig who has replaced the injured Manuel Neuer adequately. He has recovered from a concussion suffered in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Atalanta to feature in the squad.
Making a return to the set up is Antonio Rudiger who is featuring in the German national team for the first time since September. The Real Madrid center-back suffered a hamstring injury which kept him sidelined for the first half of the season, keeping him out for the last four qualifiers in the October-November period. A more interesting returnee has been Deniz Undav who will be looking to earn his international cap since the Euros. The 29 year old is in sensational form for VFB Stuttgart, being the second highest scorer in the Bundesliga behind Harry Kane this season.
Germany Fixtures for March Friendlies
Saturday, 28 March 2026
Switzerland vs Germany - St Jakob Park, Basel (01:15)
Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Germany vs Ghana - MHP Arena, Stuttgart (00:15)
Germany will face Switzerland in their first meeting since the group stages of the Euro 2024 which ended in a 1-1 draw. Die Mannschaft is also playing this fixture away for the first time since the Nations League game in September 2020 which also ended in the same scoreline. They will also face Ghana, in the second friendly match three days later, for the first time since the thrilling 2-2 draw in the 2014 World Cup. It is the first time Die Mannschaft are welcoming the African nation at home.
