DFB shock
World Cup exit for Karl confirmed – Nagelsmann nominates replacement
Updated June 5, 2026 – 11:45 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The 18-year-old was diagnosed with a serious injury. It is therefore clear that the offensive player is out of the tournament. A follow-up nomination has already been confirmed.
Lennart Karl is out of the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The DFB confirmed this on Friday evening German time. Accordingly, the detailed examination of the German national player revealed a torn muscle bundle in the left front thigh – the end for the 18-year-old. A replacement is also said to have already been determined – and it’s a little surprise. National coach Julian Nagelsmann has nominated Karl Assan Ouédraogo from RB Leipzig.
“I’m incredibly sorry for Lenny. With his carefree attitude, his wit, his pace and his personality, he fit into the team really well. It’s a big shock for him and all of us that he’s missing the World Cup,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann. The fact that Karl is still young and still has many tournaments ahead of him is “only a small consolation”. They would have “loved to have had the newcomer from last season in the team”.
Nagelsmann wanted to wait for the investigation
The national coach had previously reported Karl’s more serious injury at the final press conference on Friday evening in Chicago before the friendly against the USA (Saturday from 8:30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online). “Unfortunately, Lenny was injured in training today. We’ll have to wait and see what happens,” Nagelsmann said. And further: “To be honest, it didn’t look that good.” Nagelsmann then addressed emphatic words to the journalists present: “I ask you to be a little patient. We are now going to the hospital and taking a picture in peace.”
Karl himself “now has to process the situation himself,” Nagelsmann explained. “We have to see what we do, but for that we need a diagnosis. Then we’ll also see whether we can continue with him in the tournament or whether we can nominate someone else.” This is now certain.
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A bitter blow for the teenager: Karl had only been able to impress in the last friendly against Finland last week and was on the offensive in the 4-0 win. There was then speculation that the young FC Bayern player, who has only played three international matches, could play a larger role at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico than Nagelsmann originally planned.
The 18-year-old celebrated his breakthrough at FC Bayern last season and was able to inspire at times with his carefree, offensive game. In 40 competitive games for the German record champions, Karl scored 9 goals and prepared 8 more goals.