Germany’s young midfield star Karl ruled out of World Cup after injury in training

By: The Associated Press Posted: 2:01 PM CDT Friday, Jun. 5, 2026 Last Modified: 1:40 AM CDT Saturday, Jun. 6, 2026

CHICAGO (AP) — Germany's 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his thigh in training on Friday ahead of Germany's final pre-World Cup tuneup against the United States.

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CHICAGO (AP) — Germany’s 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his thigh in training on Friday ahead of Germany’s final pre-World Cup tuneup against the United States.

Karl was considered one of the top young players in any World Cup squad after a breakout season with Bayern Munich, for which he became the club’s youngest ever goal-scorer in the Champions League.

Karl was sent to the hospital for scans and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said it “didn’t look so good.”

Germany's Lennart Karl, left, and David Raum attend a training session in Herzogenaurach, Germany, Thursday May 28, 2026, ahead of the World Cup tournament. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

Hours later, and barely a week before Germany’s first game of the tournament, Karl was replaced in the squad by midfielder Assan Ouédraogo under World Cup rules allowing extra players in cases of serious injury.

“I have no idea where to start but it’s just indescribably painful being forced to miss the biggest tournament of all,” Karl wrote on Instagram.

“I’ve done everything to be fit for the World Cup. Unfortunately injuries often come at the unluckiest time.”

Tears at a team meeting

German soccer association president Bernd Neuendorf said there were tears at a team meeting as an Nagelsmann broke the news to the squad, German agency dpa reported. Germany plays the U.S. in Chicago on Saturday and then starts its tournament against Curacao on June 14.

Karl made his debut for Germany in March to continue a rapid rise to prominence and has played three games for the national team, including a key role as a starter in last week’s 4-0 win over Finland.

Leipzig’s 20-year-old midfielder Ouédraogo has played just once for Germany, scoring in a 13-minute appearance off the bench at the end of a 6-0 win over Slovakia in November.

Nagelsmann also said on Friday he would not risk 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer against the U.S. because of continuing concerns over a calf injury he picked up at Bayern last month.

Germany's Lennart Karl, left, is hugged by coach Julian Nagelsmann during the friendly soccer match between Germany and Finland in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

That means Neuer will go into the World Cup having not played for Germany in almost two years. He retired from the national team after the 2024 European Championship but agreed to a recall last month.

Oliver Baumann has been Germany’s first choice for much of the time Neuer was away and also started against Finland last week.

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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup