Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been warned he can’t afford to spend the season on the bench once he returns from injury if he is to be No. 1 for Germany at World Cup 2026.
Ter Stegen is [currently sidelined after undergoing back surgery](/2025/7/24/24473703/marc-andre-ter-stegen-confirms-back-surgery-when-he-expects-to-return-for-barcelona) and is not expected back until towards the end of the year.
However, he faces a real battle for minutes when he is fully fit again as Joan Garcia has established himself as the club’s No.1.
There have been whispers already that Ter Stegen may have to go out on loan and Rudi Voeller, the director of the Germany national team, says it’s vital he’s playing regularly if he wants to feature at the World Cup.
”A goalkeeper like Marc-André ter Stegen actually deserves to play in a World Cup – although Oliver Baumann is doing very, very well replacing him at the moment,” he told Sky 90.
“We obviously hope that Marc-André will come back. But whether at Barcelona or any other club – this is also important to say, and he knows that in his communication with Julian: To make it back, he obviously has to play.
“If he does, then he has a great chance and will probably be our goalkeeper at the World Cup.”