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Marc-André ter Stegen's participation in the 2026 World Cup is shrouded in uncertainty due to a dispute with his current club, FC Barcelona, based in Catalonia, Spain. The goalkeeper, who has been a reliable force for the LaLiga giants, is currently in a contractual disagreement that could potentially jeopardize his chances of starting in the global football tournament.
Ter Stegen's ongoing recovery from a second back surgery adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Germany's national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has made it clear that Ter Stegen remains the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team only if he is the starting goalkeeper at his club. Regular club playing time, according to Nagelsmann, is essential for maintaining Ter Stegen's spot for the World Cup.
At Barcelona, Ter Stegen faces stiff competition. The club has signed Joan García as a potential long-term goalkeeper and has renewed veteran goalkeeper contracts, indicating a challenging environment for Ter Stegen to reclaim his starting position. Moreover, Barcelona's financial fair play compliance and salary cap management have been affected by Ter Stegen's refusal to share his medical report with LaLiga. There are rumours that Barcelona may offload Ter Stegen to free up wages, and the club is reportedly considering legal and procedural measures that could release Ter Stegen from his contract if his recovery extends beyond four months, enabling them to register replacements like García.
The German Football Federation supports Ter Stegen amid the dispute with Barcelona but aligns with Nagelsmann’s stance that his World Cup starting position depends on returning to regular club play.
Udo Muras, a goalkeeper who has been with FC Barcelona for nearly twelve years, has reliably and quietly guarded the goal during this period of uncertainty. However, the ongoing conflict between Ter Stegen and FC Barcelona could affect his participation in the World Cup.
In summary, Ter Stegen's World Cup participation hinges on his recovery, regaining the starting goalkeeper role at Barcelona, and resolving the ongoing contractual and medical-report dispute. If he cannot return as Barcelona's number one, he risks losing his place in the German national team for 2026. The location of the dispute, Catalonia, Spain, adds another layer of complexity to the situation, with potential legal and procedural measures being considered by both parties.
The ongoing dispute with FC Barcelona and the contractual disagreement might prevent Ter Stegen from maintaining his position as Germany's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup, considering the necessity of regular club playing time for his World Cup participation as stated by Julian Nagelsmann. Additionally, Ter Stegen's potential transfer from Barcelona to another club due to the financial fair play complications could impact his involvement in European-leagues, such as LaLiga and the 2026 World Cup.
