Germany's teen midfielder Karl injured before World Cup

Germany’s teenage midfielder Lennart Karl faces a potential withdrawal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering an unspecified injury during a training session on Friday. The 18-year-old was taken to a hospital in Chicago for scans, with national team coach Julian Nagelsmann stating the situation did not look good.

The injury occurred as the German squad prepared for its final pre-tournament friendly against the United States on Saturday. Nagelsmann addressed the media after the training session, urging patience and privacy for the young player. He explained that the team was awaiting a medical diagnosis before deciding on Karl’s participation. World Cup regulations permit squad replacements due to injury up to 24 hours before a team’s opening match, which for Germany is against Curacao on June 14.

Karl, a rising star for Bayern Munich, was a notable inclusion in Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad following a breakout season. He helped Bayern secure a domestic double, registering multiple goals and assists across all competitions. He made his senior international debut in March and earned three caps, including a start in Germany’s 4-0 win over Finland last week where he provided an...