Lennart Karl Misses 2026 World Cup, Ouédraogo Named

Lennart Karl will miss the 2026 World Cup after sustaining an injury in training. FC Bayern's 18‑year‑old forward was sidelined during the final session before the German squad's rehearsal on Saturday. Ouédraogo has been called up as his replacement. The injury occurred in the closing training ahead of the World Cup general rehearsal. Karl, who had been slated for his first senior tournament, suffered a setback that prevents him from traveling to the United States. The exact nature of the injury was not disclosed. Karl's absence removes a promising offensive option from the German roster. At 18, he was the youngest player named in the provisional squad. His club, FC Bayern, will monitor his rehabilitation. Ouédraogo, whose full name was not released, joins the squad in Karl's place. The call‑up expands the options available to coach Julian Nagelsmann for the final tournament list. Ouédraogo will train with the team ahead of the opening match. Bayern Munich will rely on other academy graduates to fill the void left by Karl. The club expects the youngster to return to full fitness before the domestic season resumes. His recovery timeline remains under close observation.