Germany has lost one of its key players for the 2026 World Cup
The German national team has suffered a major setback ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Due to an ankle injury, Nico Schlotterbeck will no longer play in the tournament. The defender sustained the injury during a match against Ivory Coast.
The German national team has lost one of its key players for the remainder of the 2026 World Cup. Borussia Dortmund center back Nico Schlotterbeck will no longer be able to help the German national team in the tournament due to his injury. The unfortunate incident occurred during the match against Ivory Coast, which Germany won 2–1. Schlotterbeck was injured in the first half. After halftime, the coaching staff decided not to risk the player’s health and kept him in the locker room.
Further examination confirmed the severity of the injury. The 26-year-old defender was diagnosed with a tear of the medial collateral ligament in his ankle. According to Sky Sport, the player will need up to two months to recover. This means he will not return to the field for the 2026 World Cup.
Schlotterbeck was one of the key players in Germany’s defense. Before his injury, he had played two matches at the World Cup and even scored one goal. During the 2025–26 season, the defender was also a key figure for Borussia Dortmund. Playing for the “Bees,” he appeared in 37 matches across all competitions and scored five goals. The loss of Schlotterbeck was a serious blow to the German national team’s coaching staff, as the center back was considered one of the team’s most consistent players and played a key role in organizing the defense.
Where to Watch the 2026 World Cup in Ukraine
The Megogo media service has become the official broadcaster of the World Cup in Ukraine. The platform will show all tournament matches exclusively and provide commentary in Ukrainian. In addition to the matches themselves, viewers can expect over 90 special studio shows and analytical programs. All matches are available with the “Sport” and Megopack subscriptions. At the same time, some matches can be watched for free on the “Megogo Sport” TV channel, which is available on T2 digital terrestrial television and on cable networks. Among the matches guaranteed to be shown on free-to-air TV are:
- the tournament’s opening game;
- two quarterfinals;
- both semifinals;
- the third-place match;
- the World Cup final.
The network will also broadcast at least one match on each match day throughout the tournament, according to Sky Sports.
