Jürgen Klopp has named a 44-player squad for his debut fixtures as Germany’s national team manager, splitting his initial selection across two distinct groups to evaluate talent ahead of the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, according to official reports from FIFA.
The 59-year-old manager, taking charge of his first senior international fixtures following his appointment, has included 16 players who are eligible for their potential DFB debuts, with 11 of those called up to the senior setup for the very first time. Alongside the wave of newcomers, Klopp has retained 16 members from Germany’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, creating a sprawling transitional roster designed to address a demanding international schedule.
The unusual squad size is largely driven by a compressed fixture list that requires Germany to play four matches within an 11-day window. According to match schedules verified by FIFA, Die Mannschaft opens away against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24, hosts Greece in Augsburg on September 27, faces Serbia in Munich on October 1, and travels to Thessaloniki for a return fixture against Greece on October 4.
“I want to get to know as many players as possible during this time,” Klopp explained during his squad presentation, as reported by FIFA. At the same time, the manager emphasized that the massive player pool does not lower the team’s competitive threshold: “I expect more immediately.”
Tactical Shifts and Roster Surprises
Among the major tactical adjustments under Klopp’s new regime is a positional shift for Joshua Kimmich. According to FIFA’s reports, the player will no longer feature as a right-back under Klopp, returning instead to a central midfield role.
The roster overhaul also brings several fresh faces from the domestic leagues and abroad into the senior international conversation. Felix Keidel of Bundesliga-promoted SV Elversberg earned a call-up after establishing himself in the top flight following a strong campaign in the 2. Bundesliga. The 23-year-old’s positional versatility across the flanks and in defensive midfield provided a compelling argument for selection.
Additional newcomers include Younes Ebnoutalib, who joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the winter after playing for Elversberg, and Mika Baur, who moved to Celtic Glasgow after featuring for SC Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga. Further uncapped additions listed by FIFA include Max Rosenfelder, Yannik Engelhardt, Bambasé Conté, Philipp Treu, Hennes Behrens, Vitaly Janelt, Derry Scherhant, and Finn Jeltsch, who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023™ with Germany’s youth side.
Notable Absences and Goalkeeping Transition
The expansive selection strategy has left several established internationals on the outside looking in for the initial fixtures. Prominent absentees from the 2026 World Cup squad include Leroy Sané and Deniz Undav, according to FIFA’s reporting. Oliver Baumann is also absent.
Meanwhile, the team is managing a transition in goal following Manuel Neuer’s international retirement after the 2026 World Cup. Marc-André ter Stegen returns to the fold as Klopp establishes a new baseline for the squad.
The extensive talent evaluation aligns with comments Klopp made upon taking the job, when he pointed to an extended tracking list of 57 outfield players and declared that the door to the national team remained open for anyone eager for a fresh start.
Match Schedule and Next Steps
Germany begins its autumn international block against the Netherlands on September 24 in Amsterdam. Kickoff times and local broadcast details for the four Nations League encounters will be confirmed through official DFB channels ahead of the September window.
Keep reading
