Germany Recall Neuer, Salah Leads Egypt Squad -

The build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is intensifying, with major football nations unveiling their squads and key developments shaping preparations for the global tournament.

Germany have made headlines with the surprise return of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The 40-year-old, who stepped away from international football after Euro 2024, has been recalled by head coach Julian Nagelsmann as part of a 26-man squad.

Neuer will provide experience alongside Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel in goal.

The German squad also features notable names such as Antonio Rüdiger, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané, and Arsenal forward Kai Havertz.

However, injuries have ruled out players like Serge Gnabry, while Karim Adeyemi and Niclas Füllkrug were also omitted.

Meanwhile, Egypt will be led by star forward Mohamed Salah, who has been named captain in their provisional 27-man squad.

The Liverpool talisman, who has scored 67 goals in 115 appearances for his country, is expected to play a pivotal role as the Pharaohs aim to make a strong impact.

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Egypt’s squad includes Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush and promising teenager Hamza Abdelkarim, with one player set to be dropped after an upcoming friendly against Russia to meet FIFA’s 26-man requirement.

Off the pitch, logistical challenges have emerged for England, as only three police officers will travel to the United States for the tournament a significant reduction compared to previous competitions due to funding cuts.

Despite this, thousands of England fans are still expected to attend the group-stage matches.

In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo have been forced to alter their World Cup preparations due to an Ebola outbreak.

Planned events in Kinshasa have been cancelled, with the team relocating their training camp to Belgium to comply with international travel restrictions.

Looking ahead, UEFA has also announced plans to revamp its qualification format for the 2030 World Cup, introducing a Champions League-style system designed to improve competitiveness and reduce one-sided matches.

With squads being finalized and preparations underway across continents, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a historic World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.