Jürgen Klopp’s era at Germany will officially begin with the 2026-27 Nations League campaign, the first four games to be played in September and October as part of the new expanded international window, as the legendary ex-Liverpool manager hopes to reclaim his nation’s lost glory. He has immediately made his presence felt by announcing 44 players divided into two different squads for specific games, with 16 uncapped players receiving their first senior call-up. The reason behind the unusual decision, Klopp states, helps him to test a large pool of players in a long window of competitive football without relying on a 23-to-26-member squad. The initial 24-man group will travel to Amsterdam for Germany's opening Nations League match against the Netherlands on September 24, before facing Greece in Augsburg three days later. A second group of 20 players will then join the national team for the matches against Serbia in Munich on October 1 and Greece in Thessaloniki on October 4. The DFB says the majority of players involved in the first two matches will return to their clubs before the second group takes over.
Undoubtedly, there have been major calls made in Klopp’s first squad selection for the German national team, with key names in the 2026 World Cup squad, Leroy Sané and, surprisingly, Deniz Undav, missing. So many new faces have earned their debut call-up, including Premier League side Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt, showing the direction of the team in the new era. Strikingly, five goalkeepers have been named in the team, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The selection of the FC Barcelona keeper, currently on loan at Ajax, is particularly significant because he is set to take on a bigger role after Manuel Neuer’s second international retirement following the global showpiece in North America. Oliver Baumann being left out of selection further suggests Ter Stegen will play a crucial role in Klopp’s plan, thanks to his experience. Captain Joshua Kimmich has also been named, but in his usual midfield role rather than deployed as a right-back under previous management. Early signs indicate that Klopp wants a mixture of youth and experience in the squad to refigure German football’s DNA.
Julian Nagelsmann’s woeful World Cup campaign
Klopp’s arrival comes after Germany had an awful showing in the 2026 World Cup under his predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann. The former Bayern Munich coach was tasked with steadying the ship after Die Mannschaft suffered back-to-back group stage exits in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At first, Nagelsmann seemed to be building something, with Germany having a decent Euro 2024 campaign hosted on their soil, losing to eventual winners Spain, albeit under controversial circumstances. However, cracks seem to be emerging from the last Nations League campaign, as they were eliminated by Portugal in the quarterfinal stage on home turf. It was the global event in North America that ultimately caused the fracture.
Even though the team managed to avoid a third group stage humiliation on the world stage, their journey ended shockingly in the new Round of 32 stage of the 48-team tournament. The start was gigantic as the Germans thrashed debutants Curaçao 7-1 but allowed them to score the leveller while they had to come from behind to win late against Ivory Coast. Despite securing qualification early, the 2-1 loss to a struggling Ecuador team with a full-fledged starting eleven in the final group game did not sit well with the fans. However, the worst was about to come. Germany then suffered a humiliating exit at the hands of Paraguay on penalties in the first knockout game at this stage since lifting the title in 2014, making it another disappointing World Cup campaign for the side.
Will Jürgen Klopp change Germany’s fortune?
No doubt, Nagelsmann felt uncomfortable continuing in his role and stepped down shortly after the tournament, prompting the board to search for a new and known face to master the rebuild again. There was no better option than to bring one of the most successful German coaches to the helm, Jürgen Klopp, whose triumphant story with Borussia Dortmund in his homeland and with Liverpool in England is well documented. Despite stating his intent to move away from a managerial job after a decade loaded with success with the Reds and taking an operational role at Red Bull Group, the rare opportunity of becoming the head coach of one’s national team was too tempting to reject. Hence, Klopp was signed as the new boss to lead the charge.
The biggest question surrounding Klopp's appointment is whether he can translate his club-level success into a successful international project. His previous managerial career has been built around intense football, aggressive pressing, quick transitions and a strong emotional connection between players and supporters. Germany's squad contains several talents who could potentially suit those principles. Musiala and Wirtz are the creative hub, Kimmich an engine, while Schlotterbeck provides athleticism, physicality and aggression in defence. They will be focal points for the team. The challenge will be turning those individual qualities into a coherent international team. Klopp also has to determine the best balance between established players and emerging talent. His first squad suggests that he does not intend to make that decision based purely on reputation. The Nations League will give the first glimpse of whether it is worth it.
Germany Squad for Nations League 2026-27 September-October games
First Squad for Netherlands and Greece
Goalkeepers: Alexander Nubel (Besiktas), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Ajax), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg)
Defenders: Hennes Behrens (Augsburg), Yann Bisseck (Inter), Nathaniel Brown (Bayern Munich), Max Rosenfelder (Freiburg), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Philipp Treu (Freiburg), Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Bambase Conte (Hoffenheim), Yannik Engelhardt (Freiburg), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund),
Forwards: Kevin Schade (Brentford), Anton Stach (Leeds United), Younes Ebnoutalib (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kai Havertz (Arsenal)
Second Squad for Serbia and Greece
Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Jonas Urbig (Bayern Munich)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig), Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United),
Midfielders: Mika Baur (Celtic), Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich), Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig), Vitaly Janelt (Brentford), Felix Keidel (Elversberg), Aleksander Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
Forwards: Karim Adeyemi (Barcelona), Said El Mala (Köln), Derry Scherhant (Freiburg), Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nick Woltemade (Juventus)
Germany Nations League 2026-27 September-October Fixtures
Friday, 25 September 2026
Netherlands vs Germany - Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam (00:15)
Monday, 28 September 2026
Germany vs Greece - WWK Arena, Augsburg (00:15)
Friday, 2 October 2026
Germany vs Serbia - Allianz Arena, Munich (00:15)
Monday, 5 October 2026
Greece vs Germany - Stadio Toumbas, Thessaloniki (00:15)
After the disappointment of the 2026 World Cup, Germany now enters another period of transition. The arrival of Klopp has generated enormous expectations, but his first task is considerably more practical: identify the players capable of executing his ideas, establish a new hierarchy and restore consistency to the national team. The Nations League fixtures against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia will provide the first indication of what Germany under Klopp could look like. For a nation accustomed to competing for major international honours, the rebuilding process in a highly anticipated era starts in Amsterdam on September 24.