Germany suffer World Cup blow as Lennart Karl ruled out
Germany forward Lennart Karl will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a muscle bundle tear during training.
Germany have been dealt a major blow ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with 18-year-old Bayern Munich forward Lennart Karl ruled out of the tournament. The youngster suffered a muscle bundle tear during a team training drill.
The injury occurred during the final preparations before the squad's departure to North America. Teammate Deniz Undav described the incident, noting that it happened during a shooting drill in the final moments of the session. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that the teenager faces a recovery period of four to six weeks, forcing him to withdraw from the squad.
When he then touched that spot, we realised 'okay, something is wrong there.' When we got the result, we were naturally very sorry for the boy. Deniz Undav
The setback is particularly devastating for Karl, who had enjoyed a breakout season in Munich and successfully integrated into Nagelsmann's senior setup. The teenager expressed his heartbreak on social media, promising to return stronger for his club and country.
Nagelsmann has moved quickly to address the vacancy, calling up 20-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouedraogo as emergency cover. The squad is now finalizing preparations for their Group E matches against Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador.