"This is my last tournament..." Manuel Neuer To Retire After Germany's 2026 World Cup Run

Manuel Neuer has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the end of his international career, with the Germany legend determined to sign off by helping his country chase a fifth world title.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper, who reversed his retirement decision to return for this summer's tournament, revealed that there will be no further comeback once Germany's World Cup campaign concludes in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Neuer had initially stepped away from international football following Euro 2024, believing it was the right moment to bring an end to a remarkable chapter with Die Mannschaft.

However, impressive performances for Bayern Munich and encouragement from Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann ultimately convinced him to return for one final challenge on football's biggest stage.

Now preparing for his fifth World Cup appearance, Neuer has made it clear that this tournament will be his last in German colours.

Speaking to reporters, the veteran goalkeeper reflected on his original decision to retire and the circumstances behind it.

"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 said, as quoted by Goal.

"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."

Despite his successful return and a strong performance in Germany's emphatic 7-1 victory over Curaçao in their opening Group E fixture, Neuer insists he will not change his mind about his future.

The Bayern Munich icon acknowledged that he has already begun processing the reality that the final matches of his international career are now approaching.

"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," he said.

"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."

Neuer's return inevitably reshaped Germany's goalkeeping hierarchy. During his absence, Oliver Baumann had emerged as a leading candidate to become Germany's number one, but Nagelsmann restored Neuer to the starting lineup following his return.

The former World Cup winner was keen to stress that there has been no tension between the goalkeepers and praised the atmosphere within the squad.

"We work together with Oliver. We support each other and train for the team," Neuer explained.

"After coming together we discussed things and talked about how it came about with my return."

Germany entered the tournament carrying the weight of disappointing World Cup campaigns in both 2018 and 2022, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. Neuer, however, insists that the current squad focuses solely on the present and does not dwell on past failures.

Attention now turns to Saturday's crucial meeting with Ivory Coast. A victory would guarantee Germany's place in the knockout rounds with a game to spare and further strengthen belief that this squad can challenge for the trophy.

For Neuer personally, the stakes are even greater. Having already lifted the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, he now has an opportunity to achieve something unprecedented in German football history by winning a second global crown.

"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. It is an absolute present to be here again.

"It would be very special to do it a second time, but if I did not see the chance that we could do it, I would not be sitting here."

As Germany continue their pursuit of World Cup glory, one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time is preparing for the final chapter of an international career that has already secured its place among football's most celebrated stories.