Manuel Neuer To Retire From International Football After 2026 World Cup

Manuel Neuer has stated that the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of an international career. The long-serving Germany goalkeeper confirms retirement from national duty after the tournament. Neuer previously stepped away following the Euro 2024 finals in Germany, then returned for this World Cup campaign after reconsidering that earlier decision.

Germany enter their second group match with confidence after a 7-1 win over Curacao. The team now aims to secure a place in the knockout phase against Ivory Coast on Saturday. Victory would deliver back-to-back group wins at a World Cup for the first time since 2006.

Aged 40 years and 79 days, Neuer achieved a new age landmark at this World Cup. The goalkeeper became Germany’s oldest player to feature at a major tournament during the win over Curacao. Neuer moved past Lothar Matthaus, who was 39 years and 91 days against Portugal at Euro 2000.

Neuer reached his 20th World Cup appearance in the same match, joining a select group of goalkeepers. France’s Hugo Lloris is the only other goalkeeper to play 20 World Cup games. Overall, Neuer has now made 40 appearances at major tournaments for Germany, second in Europe behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s 52.

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Despite returning to the national squad for this competition, Neuer stressed that this will close his Germany chapter. “I stepped back in 2024 with a good reason after a good home Euro. For me it was the right decision. It felt right,” Neuer told a press conference. “It would have been too much of a sporting burden for me (to have kept playing for the national team) for the last two years.

“For me it is clear that this is my last tournament. I do not plan to be there in two years time for the next Euro. In the last days I have dealt with the fact that these are the last games for Germany. But I want to look forward to all the games and not to any goodbye shirts.”

Germany have not confirmed progression from the group stage at a World Cup since 2014. On that occasion, the team went on to win the tournament. A win over Ivory Coast would secure passage after two matches and reduce pressure for the final group fixture.

Neuer explained that the squad is trying to avoid dwelling on recent World Cup failures. “This is our goal. We have everything in our own hands. We don’t want to look back at past World Cups,” Neuer said. “The team does not deal with that. We look at the next step and the next step is Ivory Coast. To qualify after the second game would be special and would allow us to look a bit further ahead.”

Neuer’s decision fixes a clear endpoint for an international career filled with records and titles. Germany now balance that awareness with a focus on performance at the 2026 World Cup. The coming matches will shape both Neuer’s final chapter with the national team and Germany’s attempt to return to past tournament levels.