Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has been forced to withdraw Lennart Karl from the World Cup 2026 squad following a training ground injury.
The Bayern Munich starlet had recently featured in Germany’s 4-0 friendly victory over Finland, providing an assist. Hopes were incredibly high for him to lead the Die Mannschaft attack across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. However, during a press conference on Friday, Nagelsmann announced that Karl sustained an injury during practice, without specifying its exact nature.
Following further medical examinations, it was confirmed that the youngster will miss the tournament. Karl is flying back to Germany, and Leipzig’s Assan Ouédraogo has been officially called up as his replacement.
Nagelsmann Devastated by the Loss of Germany’s “New Yamal”
Karl is widely regarded as one of the brightest talents in German football, with some media outlets even dubbing him the “New Yamal.”
Expressing his deep disappointment, Nagelsmann stated: “I am incredibly sad for Lenni. Missing out on the World Cup is a massive blow for him and for all of us.” The 18-year-old enjoyed a stellar season with Bayern Munich, making 40 appearances, scoring 9 goals, and guiding the Bavarians to a domestic double.
In contrast, his replacement Ouédraogo endured an injury-plagued season with RB Leipzig, racking up just 920 minutes of playing time, though he remains one of the most gifted prodigies in the country.
Germany’s Final World Cup Preparations and Group Stage Openers
Germany will face the United States in a friendly match on Saturday, before officially kicking off their World Cup campaign on June 14th against Curaçao, in a group that also includes Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
