Ilkay Gündogan has issued a bold warning to the rest of the World Cup field: do not write off Germany.
The 35-year-old Galatasaray midfielder, speaking to BILD ahead of the tournament, declared that Julian Nagelsmann’s side has the potential to be the surprise package of the 2026 World Cup.
“I believe that the Germany team can provide a very big surprise,” Gündogan said. “I believe in the team, I see a lot of potential. You can beat a lot of opponents.”
A decade of hurt
Germany have not won the World Cup since lifting the trophy in Rio de Janeiro in 2014 . The 12 years since have been defined by humiliation: consecutive group stage exits in 2018 and 2022, the worst back-to-back results in the country’s tournament history .
For a nation with four World Cup titles — tied with Italy as Europe’s most successful — and eight final appearances, that record is unacceptable . Now, the Mannschaft are chasing a fifth star to match Brazil’s record .
Gündogan believes this squad is different.
What makes him optimistic
The veteran midfielder, who has earned over 80 caps for Germany, pointed to a specific quality that has returned to the side.
“What makes me optimistic? The mix of experience and young, dynamic players,” he explained. “This unpredictability of the young players, I liked that lately, how we play.”
It is a formula Nagelsmann has spent two years refining. The squad he assembled for 2026 is widely regarded as the most balanced and dangerous of his tenure .
Attacking depth that frightens opponents
Gündogan highlighted the embarrassment of riches at Germany’s disposal in the final third.
“You have good, different player profiles at the front with Havertz, Undav, Woltemade,” he said. “The national coach has a lot of options offensively, and the same in defense. The team is well staffed. It’s a mixture that can be very dangerous for any opponent.”
The numbers back him up. Kai Havertz leads the forward line after another strong season at Arsenal . Deniz Undav remains a fan favourite at Stuttgart, though his relationship with Nagelsmann has reportedly been strained at times . And Nick Woltemade, now at Newcastle United, was Germany’s top scorer in qualifying with four goals .
Behind them, the creative engine of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala forms what many consider the most exciting young partnership at this tournament . Wirtz makes his World Cup debut after joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen, while Musiala — despite missing much of the 2024-25 season through injury — was passed fit by Nagelsmann .
Experience at the back and between the posts
At 40 years old, Manuel Neuer reversed his international retirement to compete at a fifth World Cup, recalled after Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a serious hamstring injury in February . The move has polarised opinion — recent polls showed a majority of fans preferred Oliver Baumann — but Neuer’s experience remains invaluable .
In front of him, Antonio Rüdiger continues to anchor the defence. The Real Madrid centre-back has courted controversy with his aggressive style and provocative gestures, but Nagelsmann has refused to leave behind his “enfant terrible” because his sporting quality remains immense .
Joshua Kimmich captains the side, bringing tactical intelligence and versatility from his midfield role at Bayern Munich .
The road ahead
Germany have been handed a manageable group for the 2026 World Cup, drawn in Group E alongside Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador .
Their schedule is as follows :
· June 14: Germany vs. Curaçao (Houston)
· June 20: Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Toronto)
· June 25: Germany vs. Ecuador (New Jersey)
For the first time, 48 teams are competing at this World Cup. All group winners and runners-up will advance to the knockout stage, along with the eight best third-placed sides — a format that significantly cuts the risk of another group-stage exit .
If Germany top their group, they would face a third-placed team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the round of 32. A potential round of 16 clash with the winner of Group I — likely France or Norway — would follow. From there, a quarter-final against the Netherlands or Morocco, then a semi-final against Spain, could be the path to the final .
Finish second, however, and the road becomes brutal: a likely round of 16 meeting with Brazil, followed by a potential quarter-final against Thomas Tuchel’s England .
The setback before the start
Germany’s preparations suffered a blow when 18-year-old Bayern Munich forward Lennart Karl — the youngest player in the original squad — was ruled out of the tournament after tearing a muscle bundle in his left thigh during training .
Thomas Müller, the 36-year-old veteran who has seen it all, downplayed the impact. “We in Germany have rarely been dependent on a single player, and in my opinion we are not dependent on one now,” Müller said. “So for the success or failure of the German team, nothing has really changed” .
Karl has been replaced by Assan Ouédraogo of RB Leipzig .
The Gündogan factor
At 35, Gündogan brings his own brand of composure and experience. Now playing his club football at Galatasaray, he has scored two goals and provided three assists in 24 Süper Lig appearances this season, with a remarkable 92.5% pass completion rate .
His expected assists (xA) of 0.32 per 90 minutes places him in the 95th percentile of Süper Lig players — proof that even at his age, his creative influence remains elite .
The verdict
Germany have been here before. In 2018 and 2022, they arrived with hope and left with humiliation. But this squad feels different: younger, more unpredictable, and — if Gündogan is to be believed — hungrier.
“We can provide a very big surprise,” he said.
For a nation desperate to erase a decade of disappointment, that surprise cannot come soon enough.
