Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has confirmed that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is fit to start the nation's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, with the opener against Curaçao set to mark his long-awaited return to competitive international football.

The 40-year-old has been absent from Germany duty for nearly two years, having briefly stepped away from international football after the UEFA Euro 2024 quarterfinal. His last appearance for the national side came on July 5, 2024 — a 2-1 defeat to Spain that ended Germany's tournament on home soil.

A comeback built on trust

Nagelsmann personally persuaded Neuer to come out of international retirement, and the veteran goalkeeper has been working his way back to full sharpness ahead of the tournament. A calf injury ruled him out of Germany's pre-tournament friendlies — a 4-0 win over Finland and a 2-1 victory against the United States — but Nagelsmann is satisfied with his condition heading into the group stage.