The German Football Association’s sporting director, Rudi Völler, was very clear about the condition set for Ter Stegen if he wants to play for Germany in the 2026 World Cup.
Ter Stegen returned to Barcelona after recovering from injury and played in the Copa del Rey match against Guadalajara. However, he remains out of coach Hansi Flick’s plans, who clearly informed him that he is the third-choice goalkeeper behind Juan García and Wojciech Szczęsny, just six months before the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
When asked about Ter Stegen’s chances of playing for the national team and starting in goal at the World Cup, Völler replied, “It doesn’t matter if Ter Stegen stays at Barcelona or moves to another club. The important thing now is that he plays regularly.”
He added, “We will all be happy for him if, after so many years in Manuel Neuer’s shadow, he gets the chance to play in the World Cup.”
Oliver Baumann, the Hoffenheim goalkeeper, has recently become Germany’s first-choice keeper, and Völler commented on this, saying, “Baumann is already performing brilliantly in this role.”
Thus, Völler has confirmed what coach Julian Nagelsmann previously stated: that the only way for Ter Stegen to secure a place in the World Cup squad is to play consistently in the coming period. This will likely force the 33-year-old to leave Barcelona in the winter transfer window.
Ter Stegen has received numerous offers recently, the latest being from Aston Villa. Girona also offered to loan the German goalkeeper to Barcelona, provided the Catalan club would cover the majority of his hefty salary, which exceeds €15 million annually.
