What to know about Germany ahead of the 2026 Men's World Cup knockouts

The first of those two is a Round of 32 match at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 29. By winning Group E, Germany became the first team to know it’ll be shipping up to Boston for this showdown, and on Friday, June 26, found out its opponent is Group D third place finishers Paraguay.

Die Mannschaft are looking to make a deep run in the tournament after failing to advance past the group stage in both 2018 and 2022 despite winning it all in Brazil in 2014.

Here’s what to know about Germany ahead of kickoff in Foxborough.

Forward Deniz Undav has been leading the way on offense for Die Mannschaft, notching 3 goals and a pair of assists through the group stage. Fellow forward Kai Havertz has a pair of goals in a balanced German attack.

Midfielder Florian Wirtz and defender and captain Joshua Kimmich have been the engines powering Die Mannschaft‘s attack with a pair of assists each. Midfielders Felix Nmecha and Jamal Musiala and defender Nathaniel Brown have all found the back of the net.

On defense, Jonathan Tah has been a consistent presence while Antonio Rüdiger will look to provide valuable veteran experience, especially after Nico Schlotterbeck suffered a tournament-ending injury against Côte d’Ivoire.

In net once again for Germany after coming out of international retirement is veteran goalkeeper and 2014 World Cup winner Manuel Neuer, providing Die Mannschaft with needed deep tournament experience.

Die Mannschaft advanced past the group stage for the first time since 2014 by going 2-0-1 to win Group E.

In its opening match on June 14 at Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Germany got off to an emphatic start, beating Curaçao 7-1 with six different goal scorers. A tighter match against eventual second place finishers Côte d’Ivoire north of the border at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) followed on June 20, as Deniz Undav recorded a brace including the 2-1 winner in the fourth minute of extra time.

Die Mannschaft were denied a perfect group stage though by Ecuador, as after Leroy Sané found the back of the net within the opening two minutes, Nilsson Angulo drew the match back even in the ninth and Gonzalo Plata struck the 2-1 winner for La Tricolor in the 77th minute at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) on June 25.

Die Mannschaft have won the World Cup four times: as West Germany in 1954 in Switzerland, 1974 in West Germany and 1990 in Italy and as a unified Germany in 2014 in Brazil. Only Brazil (5) has won more Men’s World Cup titles.

Germany’s last World Cup win came against Argentina in Brazil in 2014, a 1-0 win in extra time. Neuer is the only remaining player for Die Mannschaft to have lifted the World Cup trophy at the famed Maracanã.

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Alexander Nübel (Bayern Munich)

Defenders: Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (RB Leipzig)

Midfielders: Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (VfB Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz 05), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion FC), Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool FC), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray SK), Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig)

Attackers: Kai Havertz (Arsenal FC), Nick Woltemende (Newcastle United), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)

Italics designate a player who is out injured

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: What to know about Germany ahead of the 2026
Men’s World Cup knockouts