Even though Jonas Urbig cannot take the field, Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann is expected to include him in the squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Just a day before the official reveal of Germany’s World Cup team, reports about Nagelsmann’s final choices have surfaced, particularly regarding the goalkeeping lineup.

As per reports from Bild and Sky, VfB Stuttgart’s Alexander Nübel will travel to North America as the third-choice goalkeeper for the tournament. Meanwhile, Jonas Urbig is set to be part of the team as a “training goalkeeper.” This means the 22-year-old will only participate in practice sessions and will not be eligible for match selection.

It is confirmed that Manuel Neuer will return to the DFB squad and is expected to start the tournament as the first-choice keeper, provided he is fully fit. During the last Bundesliga fixture against 1. FC Köln, the 40-year-old was substituted due to a muscle issue in his left calf. His availability for Saturday’s DFB Cup final against VfB Stuttgart is still uncertain.

Consequently, the previous number one, Oliver Baumann, has been relegated to a backup role—something Nagelsmann reportedly communicated to him personally.

Alexander Nübel’s plans after the World Cup are still unresolved.

Nübel is expected to continue as the third-choice goalkeeper at Bayern Munich despite a historically uneasy dynamic with Neuer. Having joined Bayern on a free transfer in 2020 to serve as the backup, Nübel never made a competitive appearance due to Neuer’s dominance. Reports have also hinted at a strained personal relationship between the two.

Between 2021 and 2023, he was loaned out to AS Monaco, and upon returning, he flourished at Stuttgart, earning him a recall to the national side. His loan at VfB Stuttgart is set to end this summer, yet Bayern’s management has recently dismissed the idea of his return to Munich, even though he is under contract until 2030. His post-World Cup trajectory remains uncertain.

Urbig, who joined Bayern Munich in January 2025, quickly developed a strong working relationship with Neuer and featured in 19 matches this season, partly because of Neuer’s injury absences. Reports suggest that Neuer, now fully fit, personally advocated for Urbig’s inclusion in Germany’s World Cup squad. Urbig is widely viewed as Neuer’s long-term successor at Bayern and potentially the next number one for Germany in the future.