With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, Germany’s national coach Julian Nagelsmann is set to announce his squad next Thursday. While the core of the team is largely decided, there’s always room for unexpected names to make the cut. Nagelsmann has indicated that about 20 players are firmly in his plans, with six spots still up for grabs in a close race.
He has repeatedly emphasized that the squad he selected for the March test matches against Switzerland (4-3) and Ghana (2-1) will form the backbone of the World Cup team. However, players who were not part of that selection still hold hopes of securing a ticket to the tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Who are these potential surprise inclusions? Who has made a strong case in recent weeks, and which names could truly shock everyone? SPOX has analyzed the possibilities, rating each player’s surprise factor.
Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund) — Surprise Factor: 2/10
Like his Dortmund teammate Karim Adeyemi, Maximilian Beier was absent from Nagelsmann’s March squad. Instead, the national coach opted for Kevin Schade of FC Brentford, suggesting he would likely take only one, or at most two, of these fast counter-attacking forwards to the World Cup.
«One of these three, maybe two, will ultimately prevail. But they all have the same chances. Kevin just has the advantage of showing himself to us now. The others had that advantage before,» Nagelsmann explained. He last called up Beier for the international break in October of the previous year.
In recent weeks, Beier has been the most insistent contender for a spot, making it difficult for Nagelsmann to overlook him. Furthermore, the injury to Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry has opened up another offensive World Cup slot.
Beier has been consistently performing for BVB for months, finishing the season strongly on the left wing. With 20 direct goal contributions across all competitions (ten goals, ten assists), he is the best scorer among his direct competitors this season. Moreover, he demonstrates maximum running and commitment in every second of a game, including defensive duties – attributes Nagelsmann famously values highly.
Matthias Ginter (SC Freiburg) — Surprise Factor: 9/10
At 32, Matthias Ginter is experiencing a renaissance. The reliably excellent center-back is having an outstanding season and has played a significant role in SC Freiburg reaching the Europa League final and being in a strong position to qualify for another international competition.
Prominent figures like record international Lothar Matthäus support Ginter’s potential World Cup inclusion. Even former DFB star Max Kruse recently stated that the Freiburg player «must be considered,» and teammate Igor Matanovic emphasized, «As national coach, I would definitely take him with me. The team’s success speaks for itself, and he has a huge part in it.»
Before the March internationals, Ginter revealed he received a call from Nagelsmann, who was unable to select him at that time. Will that change in the summer? «As far as I’ve heard, it’s not final yet. So, let’s see,» Ginter himself said.
The 2014 World Cup winner, who at 20 did not feature in any tournament matches, would certainly have earned a World Cup nomination for what is arguably the best season of his career. However, Nagelsmann has never called him up in his two and a half years in charge. Ginter’s last of 51 international appearances was in June 2023 under Hansi Flick.
Despite the high surprise factor, Ginter’s actual chances of making the World Cup squad are considered low. With the established central defenders Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck, along with their alternatives Antonio Rüdiger and Waldemar Anton, Nagelsmann likely has already filled four slots in central defense. This leaves the fifth center-back position, for which the national coach nominated Malick Thiaw in March. The 24-year-old from Newcastle United has an advantage over Ginter, not only because Nagelsmann has called him up three times but also because he is eight years younger. Thiaw offers greater future potential, and Nagelsmann might take him to the USA for development in the coming years.
A potential opening for Ginter could arise if Nagelsmann considers him as a backup for Joshua Kimmich at right-back. After all, Ginter can theoretically play right-back and has done so several times for the national team.
Yann Bisseck (Inter Milan) — Surprise Factor: 8/10
Like Ginter, Yann Bisseck, at 25, benefits from his age and the associated greater future potential for the DFB team. Nevertheless, Nagelsmann is more likely to choose between Thiaw and Ginter for the fifth center-back spot.
Despite consistently good performances for Inter Milan, Bisseck was not considered for the March internationals. Subsequently, a muscle injury sidelined him for three weeks, but he made a positive return to the pitch at the end of April, scoring in Inter’s 2-2 draw against Torino. As a regular player for the Italian champions, Bisseck certainly has a claim to play a role in the national team.
However, he has not been part of the DFB squad since his initial nomination in March 2025, when he made his international debut against Italy. Therefore, Bisseck’s World Cup call-up would be surprising, primarily because it seems unlikely despite his strong development.
Said El Mala (1. FC Köln) — Surprise Factor: 6/10
When Nagelsmann first nominated Said El Mala in November of the previous year, but sent him to the U21 team as planned after the first of two World Cup qualifiers, the national coach emphasized: «He needs to fix his weaknesses in the long run so that he becomes a regular starter at Köln.»
El Mala’s at times unreliable defensive work was one of the main weaknesses, which had prevented the offensive talent from earning more starts for FC. El Mala has now fulfilled Nagelsmann’s demand from half a year ago: The 19-year-old has been a consistent starter for his club for weeks – especially since Lukas Kwasniok’s departure – featuring in the starting lineup nine consecutive times in the Bundesliga.
Moreover, El Mala has been in good form, consistently impressing and accumulating seven scorer points since the end of February (five goals, two assists). He certainly has arguments to make for a World Cup spot, having missed the March internationals. However, competition in offense is likely too fierce, even with Serge Gnabry’s absence from the World Cup. Leroy Sané, Lennart Karl, and Chris Führich, who was called up in March, are likely ahead of El Mala in the winger rankings, as is the recent strong performer Maxi Beier of BVB. Whether there will be room for El Mala will also depend on how Nagelsmann plans to fill other positions.
El Mala would have deserved a World Cup spot. With his bold, fresh style of play, the Köln player would undoubtedly benefit the German squad, offering an option from the bench in tight matches that could tip the scales back in their favor.
Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig) — Surprise Factor: 5/10
Had Assan Ouédraogo not been sidelined by injury for almost the entire period from the end of November to the end of March, the RB Leipzig midfield talent might not be a surprise candidate but a very likely World Cup traveler.
Before his first of two injuries, Ouédraogo was well on his way to becoming a key player in this Bundesliga season. At RB, the 2023 U17 World and European Champion had secured a regular starting position in the autumn, delivering one strong performance after another. After Nadiem Amiri had to withdraw due to injury, Ouédraogo was called up by Nagelsmann in November for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg (2-0) and Slovakia (6-0). The 20-year-old made his debut in the crucial match against Slovakia, scoring his first international goal shortly after coming on.
Ouédraogo carried that momentum into his club form, scoring a stunning goal a few days later to help Leipzig to a 2-0 victory over Werder Bremen. However, in that same game, the youngster injured his knee, initially being sidelined for nearly two months and then re-injuring himself immediately upon his comeback in mid-January. Consequently, Ouédraogo was not a consideration for the March internationals, only becoming available again at the beginning of April.
Since then, he has been gradually integrated back into the RB team, starting in three of the last four games. Will he be able to make the World Cup train? Nagelsmann is known to be a big admirer of Ouédraogo, who could bring valuable impetus to the German midfield with his blend of top-class technique and dynamism.
There is no question that the former Schalke player, who resembles Felix Nmecha in his playing style, would have a right to be in the World Cup squad. The variable remains how many central midfield spots Nagelsmann will allocate. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Leon Goretzka, Pascal Groß, and Nmecha – provided he suffers no physical setbacks after his injury – should have their tickets in hand. Behind them, Nagelsmann nominated Anton Stach in March, and with Nmecha’s withdrawal, Angelo Stiller was also called up. Whether Nagelsmann now sees Ouédraogo, who can play as a number six, eight, and ten, ahead of one of these two remains to be seen.
Nicolo Tresoldi (Club Brugge) — Surprise Factor: 9/10
Niclas Füllkrug has sidelined himself with consistent poor form at West Ham and Milan, Tim Kleindienst has missed almost the entire season injured, and Jonathan Burkardt has not truly recommended himself for a return to the DFB team in recent months. If Julian Nagelsmann decides to take a fourth striker alongside the fairly certain World Cup travelers Deniz Undav, Nick Woltemade, and Kai Havertz, Nicolo Tresoldi would be the most compelling option.
The German U21 international is having a strong season at Club Brugge in Belgium, even showcasing his goal-scoring prowess in the Champions League, netting against teams like FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Tresoldi is currently in good form, could become Belgian champion with Brugge, and scored the crucial opening goal in their 2-0 win against STVV last weekend.
Of course, a World Cup nomination for Tresoldi would still be very surprising, given he was playing in the second division in Hannover last season and Nagelsmann has never called him up before. And then there are the other attractive options the 21-year-old has for his senior international career: As the son of an Italian, born and initially raised in Italy, Tresoldi could also play for the Squadra Azzurra. And since his mother is from Argentina, the striker would also be eligible to play for the reigning world champions.
On the other hand, a World Cup nomination could be an argument for Tresoldi to commit to Germany for the future, potentially becoming a reliable number nine option for the DFB team for many years to come.
Anton Kade (FC Augsburg) — Surprise Factor: 10/10
If Julian Nagelsmann were to ask his former assistant coach Sandro Wagner for players who might not be on the radar at first glance but could be recommended, the former Augsburg coach might recall Anton Kade. Wagner brought the attacking midfielder from FC Basel to FC Augsburg last summer and was impressed. He was «absolutely surprised that we could get him, because he can do so many things,» Wagner marveled after Kade’s signing, wondering why no more ambitious club had pursued the German U21 international.
Kade would certainly represent a David Odonkor-esque surprise at the 2006 World Cup, meaning: nobody would have expected it. The 22-year-old, who at 18 had already tasted Bundesliga action a few times with his youth club Hertha BSC, has shown glimpses of his great potential in his first full season in Germany’s top flight. In recent weeks, Kade has been an important factor in Augsburg’s strong finish, consistently impressing with his speed and also demonstrating goal threat. Kade’s goal in the 1-1 draw against Frankfurt at the end of April and his brace in the 3-1 win in Bremen at the beginning of May are noteworthy.
In addition to his qualities on the pitch, Wagner raved about Kade’s extreme willingness to learn, his good team spirit, and his maturity and humility. These attributes suggest that he could fulfill the role of a learning challenger, who might get little playing time, to Nagelsmann’s complete satisfaction at the World Cup.
On the other hand, Kade faces the challenge that the national coach does not know him personally at all and therefore cannot assess from his own evaluation how the Augsburg player would fit into his team structure. With Said El Mala, for example, Nagelsmann can assess this somewhat better.
Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart) — Surprise Factor: 7/10
Maximilian Mittelstädt’s situation is clear: David Raum is a guaranteed starter for the World Cup squad. For the second left-back position, Nagelsmann will likely choose between Nathaniel Brown and Mittelstädt.
The trend clearly favors Frankfurt’s Brown, who has recently been preferred over Mittelstädt three times in a row and has taken the next step in his development at the club despite Eintracht’s current difficulties. Mittelstädt, who was a temporary starter on the left, including in the group stage of the home European Championship 2024, has not been nominated since September. In the bitter 0-2 loss in Slovakia at the start of World Cup qualification, the Stuttgart player was one of the better performers in a completely botched game. Nevertheless, no further international appearance has followed to date.
Mittelstädt’s performances for VfB have been consistently good this season, dreaming of Champions League qualification and DFB-Pokal triumph with the Swabians. However, a World Cup nomination would still come as a considerable surprise, as Nagelsmann seems to be firmly set on Raum and Brown on the left flank.
Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig) — Surprise Factor: 3/10
After a four-year absence, Ridle Baku was nominated for the German national team for the first time in a long time in October 2025. Deservedly so, as he had once again become one of the best right-backs in the Bundesliga since his move from VfL Wolfsburg to Leipzig at the beginning of 2025.
National coach Nagelsmann gave Baku playing time in the autumn, and the Leipzig player even started in the 2-0 win in Luxembourg in November. He justified the trust with an assist, and a few days later, he came on as a substitute in the 6-0 victory against Slovakia and even scored his second international goal.
Despite this, Nagelsmann did not take Baku to the test matches at the end of March. Instead, Stuttgart’s Josha Vagnoman took on the role of backup for Joshua Kimmich at right-back. «Of course, it was somewhat disappointing not to be part of the last international matches. But there’s no point in hanging your head. I just wanted to keep going, work on the things I can still improve, and make it as difficult as possible for the national coach,» Baku told Bild in mid-April, expressing confidence: «If you’re a regular starter here, there aren’t too many others who are considered for the position.»
Baku is indispensable at Leipzig and has contributed to the Saxons’ strong finish to the season with seven wins in their last seven league games. As Vagnoman has often been on the bench for VfB recently, Baku likely has an edge over his current closest competitor for the Kimmich backup role on the right flank. Consequently, a World Cup nomination for the 28-year-old would not be an overly big surprise. This is assuming Nagelsmann hasn’t perhaps considered Matthias Ginter as an alternative at right-back.
Maximilian Eggestein (SC Freiburg) — Surprise Factor: 10/10
For Freiburg coach Julian Schuster, Maximilian Eggestein is the epitome of «indispensable.» The central midfielder has played all 33 Bundesliga games this season from start to finish and has been in the starting lineup in almost all competitions – only in the Europa League round of 16 first leg in Genk, which they lost 0-1, could Schuster not rely on Eggestein due to a red card suspension.
Being such a consistent performer is, of course, not yet an argument for being considered for Germany’s World Cup squad. But Eggestein consistently performs at a high level and has played such a significant role in Freiburg’s outstanding season that Nagelsmann might have him in mind.
Especially since the back spots for central midfield are not yet set in stone, and for example, Anton Stach, who was nominated in March, is a candidate who might be shaky, and Eggestein could fill his role. Like Stach, Eggestein would surely accept the role of a competitive bench player, primarily meant to ensure high standards and necessary drive in training, without any complaints. And just like his teammate Ginter, Eggestein would have fundamentally earned a World Cup spot.
However, a World Cup nomination for the former Bremen player would naturally be extremely surprising and come out of the blue, as Nagelsmann has never nominated him before, and he has not yet played an international match. In March 2019, over seven years ago, Eggestein was called up to the DFB team for the first and, to date, only time by then-national coach Joachim Löw. He remained on the bench without playing in the friendly against Serbia (1-1) and the European Championship qualifier against the Netherlands (3-2).