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A German national team player discovered through media reports that he would not be part of the squad for the upcoming World Cup, which will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Head coach Julian Nagelsmann disclosed at the start of Germany’s training camp that one player who was not selected had already become aware of his omission before receiving an official call from the coach. The revelation came just ahead of the official announcement of the 26-man squad.

During a press conference, Nagelsmann reiterated his approach to the selection process. The 38-year-old explained that he had personally called each player beforehand to inform them whether they were being considered and later reached out to those who did not make the final cut to explain his decision.

The method drew some criticism after several names were leaked in the days leading up to last Thursday’s official announcement. Nagelsmann remarked, “Of course, I could just sit down, roll out a list and say, ‘These are the players.’ That would stop it from appearing in the media beforehand.” However, he added that he “doesn’t really care” about such leaks.

Nagelsmann acknowledged, “It was a difficult situation for the player concerned.” He emphasised that maintaining communication with players and explaining decisions personally was more important than avoiding leaks. “The right way is always to inform players directly – whether the news is good or bad,” he noted.

He continued, “Usually, the information only reaches the media after we’ve spoken to the players. But in one case, the story appeared before I could make the call. That was a mess—especially for the player.” Nagelsmann refrained from naming the individual but repeated, “For the player, it was a mess.”

The coach added, “I can’t control what the media publishes, but I firmly believe that you should always talk to every player first.” He also clarified that he was not bothered by how other national teams dealt with similar situations, saying that leaks were the only real issue with his method, though it did not affect him personally.

Nagelsmann mentioned the example of Fiorentina defender Robin Gosens, who was left out of the squad. “I called him, and I believe that’s important. He’ll now be working as a TV pundit during the World Cup, and I think it’s crucial to explain the reasons and ensure we maintain a good relationship going forward,” the coach explained.

The final German squad for the 2026 World Cup is now confirmed.