Manuel Neuer, at 40 years old, is set to compete in his fifth World Cup for Germany in 2026, having come out of international retirement. He initially announced his departure from the national team after Euro 2024, citing the right time to end his chapter. However, Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who previously managed Neuer at Bayern Munich, convinced him to return, planning to use him as the team's number one. Neuer's return means Oliver Baumann, who played throughout the qualifiers, will be sidelined. Neuer's World Cup journey began in 2010, and his potential participation in the 2026 opening match on June 14 against Curaçao would mark his 20th World Cup appearance, equaling Hugo Lloris's record. Germany's group stage matches are scheduled for June 20 against Côte d'Ivoire and June 25 against Ecuador.