Joshua Kimmich — Germany World Cup 2026 Squad

Career Highlights

Joshua Kimmich has been one of world football's most complete midfielders for nearly a decade, equally capable of dictating play from deep or slotting in at right-back. He won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020, completing a historic sextuple that season under Hansi Flick. Kimmich was named Germany's Player of the Year in 2017 and has been included in the UEFA Team of the Year and FIFPro World XI on multiple occasions. With 102 caps and 11 goals, he is Germany's most capped active player and has worn the captain's armband for both club and country.

Club Career

Kimmich came through Stuttgart's academy and had a formative loan at RB Leipzig before Bayern Munich signed him in 2015. Under Pep Guardiola, he was deployed across defence and midfield, showcasing a tactical intelligence that became his defining trait. He succeeded Philipp Lahm as Bayern's first-choice right-back before moving permanently into midfield under Carlo Ancelotti and then Jupp Heynckes. The 2019-20 treble season cemented his status: his chip over the top for Serge Gnabry against Barcelona in the 8-2 quarter-final was one of the assists of the decade. He has won nine Bundesliga titles and remains Bayern's midfield metronome under Vincent Kompany.

International Career & World Cup History

Kimmich debuted for Germany in 2016 and was part of the squad that won the Confederations Cup in 2017, starting at right-back. He featured in the 2018 World Cup debacle, where Germany crashed out in the group stage, and was again part of the 2022 squad that suffered a similar fate in Qatar. At Euro 2024 on home soil, he started every match as Germany reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual winners Spain. His 102 caps include appearances across four major tournaments, and his leadership has grown with each cycle. He has scored 11 international goals, mostly from midfield, including crucial penalties.

World Cup 2026 Outlook

At 31, Kimmich will be one of the most experienced players at the 2026 World Cup and the natural leader of Germany's midfield. His ability to control tempo, switch play, and read the game remains elite, even if his recovery pace has marginally slowed. Germany's recent tournament exits have often come down to structural failures rather than individual shortcomings, and Kimmich's organisational skills from the base of midfield could address that. If Julian Nagelsmann builds around Kimmich's passing range and leadership, Germany will have a genuine platform to mount a deep run.