Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has confirmed he will retire from international football after the 2026 World Cup.
Manuel Neuer has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the final chapter of his remarkable international career, with the veteran goalkeeper set to retire from Germany duty once the tournament concludes.
The 40-year-old shot-stopper initially stepped away from the national team following Germany’s Euro 2024 quarter-final exit on home soil. However, after producing a strong second half of the season with Bayern Munich, he earned a surprise recall from coach Julian Nagelsmann for this summer’s World Cup.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Neuer revealed that his return was always intended to be temporary. The World Cup winner explained that his decision to retire in 2024 felt right at the time and that continuing with the national team beyond this tournament would have placed too much strain on him physically.
Neuer made it clear that he has no plans to extend his international career beyond the current competition. While Germany could potentially play several more matches in the tournament, the legendary goalkeeper admitted he has already started processing the reality that these will be his final appearances in a Germany shirt.
Rather than focusing on emotional farewells, Neuer said his attention remains firmly on helping Germany achieve success. He stressed that he wants to enjoy every remaining match rather than think about goodbye ceremonies or retirement tributes.
The Bayern Munich star returned to the starting lineup ahead of Oliver Baumann, who had originally been expected to be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper for the tournament. Neuer made his first international appearance in nearly two years during Germany’s emphatic 7-1 victory over Curaçao in their Group E opener.
A strong start for 🇩🇪#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 14, 2026
Despite the competition for places, Neuer praised his relationship with Baumann, explaining that both goalkeepers have worked together professionally and maintained a strong team-first mentality since his unexpected return to the squad.
Germany now turn their attention to a crucial group-stage clash against Ivory Coast, knowing a victory would secure qualification for the knockout rounds with a game to spare. Neuer insists the squad is not dwelling on the disappointment of first-round exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Instead, the focus remains on the immediate challenge ahead.
Should Germany go all the way, Neuer would become the first German player to win two World Cup titles, adding another extraordinary achievement to a career already regarded as one of the greatest ever for a goalkeeper.
