News blog about 1. FC Cologne
Not re-nominated: El Mala experiences second World Cup disappointment
Updated June 6, 2026 – 8:48 a.mReading time: 40 mins.
1. FC Köln managed to stay in the Bundesliga. In the news blog on t-online you will find all the important news about the Geißbockheim.
Ouédraogo instead of El Mala
Said El Mala has to be patient. Julian Nagelsmann has the 19-year-old 1. FC Cologne not nominated for the 2026 World Cup. As a result of Lennart Karl’s injury, El Mala had hopes of replacing FC Bayern’s talent at the World Cup and taking his place in the squad.
However, on the night from Friday to Saturday it became known that Nagelsmann had re-nominated Assan Ouédraogo from RB Leipzig. The variable midfielder cannot be used as offensively as Karl and El Mala, but he should help Germany with his dynamism and positional variability.
El Mala, on the other hand, is experiencing his second World Cup disappointment after being the second best German goalscorer in the last Bundesliga season and was not named by Nagelsmann in the World Cup squad.
FC signs talent from RB Leipzig
1. FC Köln has signed Lionel Voufack. The 18-year-old left-back is moving from RB Leipzig to Geißbockheim, but is not initially intended for the professionals. Voufack most recently played for the Red Bulls’ U19s and will be developed for the professionals at FC via the U21s.
“We are very pleased that Lionel has chosen 1. FC Köln,” said Lukas Berg, who is the technical director for the U21 team at FC. “He brings enormous dynamism and high speed to the left lane and therefore fits in very well with our footballing orientation.”
FC is also looking for the left-back position among the professionals. This position is currently not filled following Kristoffer Lund’s departure. The Billy Goats plan to sign two left-backs in the summer. Voufack, however, is initially sorted into the U21 and is supposed to recommend himself for the Bundesliga via the regional league.
Loan player from FC Bayern is leaving FC again
1. FC Köln did not exercise the purchase option for Felipe Chavez. The billy goats announced this on Thursday. The German-Peruvian had been on loan to the billy goats from FC Bayern Munich since the end of January. The midfielder is now returning to the record champions.