Niclas Füllkrug will not feature at the 2026 World Cup after Julian Nagelsmann excluded the AC Milan striker from Germany's squad. The 33-year-old has been informed of the decision ahead of Thursday's official announcement, ending months of speculation about his international future.
Füllkrug's exclusion marks a dramatic fall from grace for a player who became a fan favourite following his late international debut. The former Werder Bremen forward made an immediate impact with ten goals in his opening twelve caps and scored twice during Germany's Euro 2024 campaign on home soil. However, a troubled spell at West Ham United followed by a loan move to Milan in January failed to revive his World Cup hopes. At the San Siro, he managed only one goal across 19 Serie A appearances and could not establish himself as a regular starter.
Strikeforce Uncertainty Remains
Nagelsmann's decision to overlook Füllkrug raises questions about Germany's attacking options heading to North America. While Deniz Undav, Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade appear to have secured their places, the head coach has yet to confirm a fourth forward. Tim Kleindienst of Borussia Mönchengladbach represents the most obvious alternative but spent most of the Bundesliga season recovering from a serious knee injury, managing only ten minutes of action. Nagelsmann could yet surprise observers by promoting Nicolo Tresoldi from Club Brugge for the first time.Centre-Back Reshuffle Underway
Yann Bisseck will also miss out despite an impressive campaign with Inter Milan, where he helped secure a domestic double. The 25-year-old centre-back will make way for a likely recall of Matthias Ginter, the 32-year-old enjoying a renaissance at SC Freiburg after a two-year absence from the national team. Nagelsmann plans to travel to Istanbul on Wednesday to watch Ginter contest the Europa League final against Aston Villa. The established defensive core of Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, Antonio Rüdiger and Waldemar Anton will anchor the backline, with one additional centre-back slot remaining.Füllkrug's international career, which began just before the 2022 World Cup when he was 29 years old, has stalled since Euro 2024. His last competitive goal came in a 5-0 Nations League demolition of Hungary in September 2024. As Nagelsmann finalises his squad, the Germany coach must balance experience with current form while building a team capable of competing in the expanded 2026 World Cup format.
