The Karl shock: What it means for the World Cup and Nagelsmann

It was also supposed to be his World Cup. Lennart Karl wanted to perform magic on the biggest stage soccer has to offer. The FC Bayern Munich teen star was about to dribble and shoot his way into the first eleven during the national team's preparations for the tournament. Until his dreams of a personal summer fairytale came to an abrupt end in Chicago - nine days before the first World Cup group game against Curaçao.

Julian Nagelsmann spoke of "a big shock" for everyone in the DFB squad - and especially for "Lenny". A torn muscle bundle in his left thigh, sustained during the final training session for the World Cup dress rehearsal against the USA today (20:30 CEST/RTL), thwarted all of Karl's big plans at Soldier Field. Leipzig's Assan Ouédraogo (20) will replace the 1.68-metre attacking player in the 26-man squad.

What does the World Cup withdrawal mean for Lennart Karl?

The emotional pain is likely to be far greater than the pain in the muscle. It will heal in a few weeks. Karl should be fit again for the start of the Bundesliga at the end of August. But there is only a World Cup every four years, so not again until 2030. "It simply hurts indescribably to have to miss the biggest tournament," Karl wrote in an initial reaction on Instagram. "Unfortunately, injuries often come at the most unfortunate time."

Thousands of comments quickly gathered under Karl's post on Instagram, including many German internationals such as Jamal Musiala, Nick Woltemade and Antonio Rüdiger as well as Bayern colleagues like Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano and Switzerland's Granit Xhaka. His fate affected his colleagues.

Karl's meteoric rise in his first professional season and after his first two international matches in March seemed to continue seamlessly at the XXL tournament in America. And that after a muscle injury in his other thigh, which seemed to slow Karl down in April.

"I'm incredibly sorry for Lenny. He was a great fit for the team with his carefree attitude, his wit, his pace and his character," said Nagelsmann, who added in an association statement: "It's only a small consolation that he's young and still has many tournaments ahead of him."

What does Karl's absence mean for Nagelsmann and the team?

The national coach must now rethink quickly. In all likelihood, Nagelsmann would have had the courage to place World Cup newcomer Karl in an attacking line-up with Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. The 18-year-old made his first appearance in the starting eleven in the 4-0 win over Finland in Mainz a few days ago - and finally overtook Leroy Sané on the right wing with his wit and pace.

The 30-year-old, one of the most experienced players in the DFB squad with 75 caps, could benefit personally from Karl's bad luck. That's the business. Sané is now the focus of attention in the final World Cup test against the USA. For Nagelsmann and the team, however, Karl is the second bitter offensive loss after Serge Gnabry.

Who is the replacement in the 26-man squad?

The young Cologne star Said El Mala would have been a conceivable replacement. Or even Stuttgart's Chris Führich. Nagelsmann opted for Assan Ouédraogo. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder from RB Leipzig is also considered a jewel.

Problem: Ouédraogo was repeatedly hampered by injuries at a young age. In November 2025, he scored a goal on his international debut in the 6-0 win over Slovakia at the end of the World Cup qualifiers - at Leipzig's home stadium. Immediately afterwards, he was out injured again.

Nagelsmann is a fan of the player. This was also immediately clear in the DFB's video on the subsequent nomination. "Assan, unfortunately you already have a very, very long injury history despite your young age. Nevertheless, you have always fought your way back and are an incredibly good, talented player," said Nagelsmann about the youngster who replaces Karl.