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Manuel Neuer appears increasingly close to reclaiming his place as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper, with reports suggesting that the Bayern Munich star has been named in Julian Nagelsmann’s provisional squad for the upcoming World Cup.

According to reports, Neuer features in the preliminary list that had to be submitted to FIFA by Monday. This raises the question — is the Bayern shot-stopper finally set to make his long-awaited comeback for the national side?

Sky Sport claims that the FC Bayern Munich captain is among the 55 players selected by Nagelsmann for the extended squad. This list, which was submitted to FIFA earlier in the week, serves as the foundation from which the final World Cup team will be chosen.

Only those included in this provisional list can be selected for the tournament, which kicks off on 11 June across the USA, Mexico and Canada. Nagelsmann is expected to officially announce his final squad next Thursday.

Sky Sports further reports that the national team manager held a personal meeting with Neuer to discuss his potential return to international duty. The 40-year-old’s comeback would mark a significant moment for both the player and the team.

Could Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury setbacks open the door for Neuer’s resurgence?

Neuer, who has earned 124 caps for Germany, famously lifted the 2014 World Cup and made his return to action in 2024 following Germany’s quarter-final elimination against Spain at the home European Championship.

Calls for Neuer’s reinstatement have grown louder since then, driven by his exceptional form for Bayern and the persistent injury troubles of his intended successor, Marc-André ter Stegen. The veteran’s resilience and consistency have once again caught the attention of fans and experts alike.

Meanwhile, Oliver Baumann continues to feature prominently in both the Nations League and World Cup qualification matches.

“We’ve seen in recent games just how outstanding Neuer still is, even at 40,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer said to Sky Sport on Thursday during the Women’s DFB Cup final in Cologne. “I’m always pleased when the best players take part in the World Cup, but this is something between him and Julian Nagelsmann. It’s their decision to make.”

During the March friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana, Germany’s goalkeeping lineup consisted of Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim), Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart), and Finn Dahmen (FC Augsburg).

At 35, Baumann has recently been Nagelsmann’s preferred choice, starting in both the Nations League and in the successful World Cup qualifying campaign.

Germany’s upcoming fixtures:

Date

Match

Competition

Sunday, 31 May (8.45 pm) – Germany vs. Finland – Friendly

Saturday, 6 June (8.30 pm) – USA vs. Germany – Friendly

Sunday, 14 June (7.00 pm) – Germany vs. Curaçao – 2026 World Cup

Saturday, 20 June (10.00 pm) – Germany vs. Ivory Coast – 2026 World Cup

Thursday, 25 June (10.00 pm) – Ecuador vs. Germany – 2026 World Cup