Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed on Saturday that veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will start against Curacao on Sunday, marking his return to international football at a fifth FIFA World Cup.
“All players are fit and Manu will start,” Nagelsmann said at his pre-match press conference.
The match in Houston will be Neuer’s first appearance for Germany in almost two years. The 40-year-old last represented his country in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Spain and has 124 caps to his name.
Nagelsmann brought the 2014 World Cup winner out of international retirement after playing a key role in helping Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga title and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League this season.
Neuer struggled with a calf injury in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup and did not feature in Germany’s 4-0 friendly win over Finland or the 2-0 victory against the United States.
Nagelsmann compared Germany’s opening match against World Cup debutant Curaçao to a classic cup scenario.
«This is a German Cup situation. David versus Goliath,» he said.
The German coach warned against underestimating the Caribbean side.
«The Curaçao players are all well trained and can enter the tournament without pressure. That always makes an opponent dangerous,» said Nagelsmann.
«You never win a match just because you are the favourite. We only win a match if we deliver a perfect performance.»
“We are going to try to show our best level.”
Published on June 14, 2026
