Lennart Karl injury puts German World Cup 2026 plans on alert
German midfielder Lennart Karl’s pre-USA test setback raises fitness questions just 18 months out from the 2026 World Cup.
’ The setback comes as Julian Nagelsmann finalizes his 2026 World Cup planning with the tournament eighteen months away. Karl, 24, has been a key figure in Germany’s midfield build-up under Nagelsmann, providing energy and progressive passing. His absence during the USA test—replaced by Florian Neuhaus—exposed a gap in Germany’s depth chart just as the squad gears up for the tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Medical reports have not been released, but social media posts suggest a lower-body issue, which typically carries recovery timelines measured in weeks rather than days. Nagelsmann has already reshuffled his midfield mix in recent friendlies, rotating players like Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Kai Havertz to balance creativity and work rate. The loss of Karl’s stamina and pressing intensity forces Nagelsmann to recalibrate his tactical blueprint.
