Bad news for the "championship favorite" as latest reports shake their chances of winning the 2026 World Cup.
On 22 June 2026, the German national team received bad news in their quest for the 2026 World Cup title after key defender Niklas Schlotterbeck suffered a severe ankle injury and had to withdraw from the tournament.
Niklas Schlotterbeck, 26, was injured during Germany's second Group E match, a 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast last Saturday, and was substituted by Antonio Rüdiger at halftime.
A statement from the German team said, "Niklas Schlotterbeck sustained an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his left ankle and will require several months to recover. The Borussia Dortmund player will remain with the team in the United States for the time being."
Germany, having already secured first place in Group E and advanced to the round of 32, will face Ecuador on Thursday, 25 June. They cannot call up a replacement player since the tournament has already started.
As a result, the German squad will have 25 players available instead of the original 26. However, coach Julian Nagelsmann still has four center-back options: Antonio Rüdiger, Jonathan Tah, Malik Jaou, and Waldemar Anton.
