Germany's Linart Karl Ruled Out of 2026 World Cup Due to Injury

The German national team faced a significant setback ahead of the 2026 World Cup as their young star Linart Karl was confirmed to be absent from the tournament due to a thigh injury sustained during training.

The German squad announced Karl's exclusion from their 2026 World Cup roster following the injury the 18-year-old player suffered during the last training session before their friendly match against the United States, one of the host nations of the tournament.

Karl, a key player for Bayern Munich, had started in the friendly match where Germany defeated Finland 4-0 last Sunday, contributing an assist before his World Cup hopes were halted by the injury.

To compensate for Karl's absence, Leipzig's Asan Wydraogo has been summoned to join the German national team ahead of the tournament's commencement.

Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his sorrow over the situation, stating, "I feel deeply saddened by what happened to Leni. His absence from the World Cup is a huge shock for him and for all of us."

He added, "The only consolation is that he is still at the beginning of his football career, with many tournaments and great opportunities ahead. We were very much looking forward to having him with us in this squad."

Nagelsmann also welcomed the new addition, saying, "With Asan Wydraogo joining us, we gain another player who has made a strong start with us, just like Leni did. He is also a great talent, and we expect him to play with confidence, courage, and freedom."

The friendly match against the United States will serve as Germany’s final preparation before starting their 2026 World Cup campaign, beginning with their Group E opener against Curaçao on June 14.

Following that, Germany will face Ivory Coast on June 20, and conclude their group stage matches against Ecuador on June 25.