Oliver Baumann had to wait 15 years for his DFB debut. In the decisive World Cup qualifying game against Slovakia, the goalkeeper will be important – and then also at the World Cup?
Oliver Baumann could see that patience and balance are among his strengths at the press conference before the German national soccer team’s last World Cup qualifying game on Monday (November 17th, 2025, 8:45 p.m. in the audio stream and live ticker at sportschau.de) in Leipzig against Slovakia.
The 35-year-old goalkeeper sat relaxed on the podium next to national coach Julian Nagelsmann. And since most of the questions didn’t go to the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim goalkeeper, Baumann was able to summarize in between: “It’s been comfortable so far.“That will probably change at the latest when he stands between the posts in the Leipzig Arena on Monday evening in the national jersey.
Nagelsmann: “Olli is currently playing extremely well”
The DFB team must not lose the last qualifying game, otherwise they will go into the World Cup playoffs. But they probably don’t waste any thought on that with the national team. “We have to win and we want to win“, stated national coach Nagelsmann relatively soberly.
The DFB head coach left no doubt that he can count on his goalkeeper: “Olli is currently playing extremely well.“In the 2-0 win in Luxembourg, the keeper helped his team out of trouble several times with saves or courageous runs out.
Squad, bench, debut, captain’s armband
The one who was so praised took it calmly in keeping with his nature: “I have prepared and will focus on myself.” Baumann would definitely have reason to go crazy. He had to wait almost 15 professional years for his debut in the national team. He was often in the squad, even on the bench – but he only slipped into the goal in October 2024, when Marc-André ter Stegen was injured.
This one international match was his absolute career goal. “But one or two people also helped me. I’ve been working towards this for a long timet,” Baumann revealed in the Sportschau interview. Now there are nine of them. And when the final whistle blew, the goalkeeper in Luxembourg already had the captain’s armband on his arm.
As number one for the World Cup?
In international match number ten he could make Germany’s World Cup qualification perfect. It is clear that he will be part of the squad at the world tournament. But will Baumann perhaps also go to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada as number one? Nagelsmann cleverly avoided the topic at the press conference before the game against Slovakia. Words like “offer on this position,” “no worries,” or “time” appeared in his response.
Sports show, November 17th, 2025 8:44 p.m
But at least time is clearly in Baumann’s favor this time. Ter Stegen is back in training at FC Barcelona, but whether he will return to goal after the summer theater, whether his body can withstand the strain and whether his form is right until the summer is still up in the air.
None of the potential competitors Alexander Nübel, Finn Dahmen or Noah Atubolu are really posing themselves at the moment.
From the DFB to Bundesliga anniversary
So it will depend on Baumann, not just on Monday evening for the DFB in Leipzig against Slovakia. Because after that he continues straight away. After the possible World Cup qualification with the DFB team, the next highlight awaits on Friday.
Then the goalkeeper will most likely play his 500th Bundesliga game in Hoffenheim’s away game against 1. FSV Mainz 05. This can only be achieved if you show a certain amount of patience and balance. It could really be the year of Oliver Baumann.