Manuel Neuer confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last for Germany | OneFootball

Manuel Neuer has confirmed this World Cup will be his last with Germany, saying on Thursday he will retire from international football after the tournament, ahead of their second match against Côte d'Ivoire. According to Le Progres, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper set out his decision at a press conference.

He had already decided to retire in 2024 after the Euros, where Germany were knocked out by Spain in the quarter-finals.

Neuer said it is clear this is his final tournament and he does not plan to be around for the next Euros in two years, while stressing he wants to focus on the matches still to come.

Now 40, he acknowledged his body no longer responds as it once did, describing his previous decision as the right one and saying the workload over the past two years would have been too heavy.

He has not been an undisputed starter for Germany, sharing the role with Oliver Baumann over the last two years.

Back in the squad for this World Cup, he called his participation a gift and said lifting the trophy again would be very special, adding he would not be here if he did not think the team were capable. A second star would be a fitting farewell.

Source: Le Progres