World Cup hopes disappears for Bayern profile due to injuries

April 20, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

Bayern lose a key piece at the worst time

According to Bundesliga’s April 18 injury report, extensive medical examinations found an adductor muscle tear in Gnabry’s right leg after Bayern’s final training session before the match against VfB Stuttgart. The same report says Bayern expect him to be out for a lengthy period. The timing is brutal. Gnabry had started Bayern’s Champions League semi final win over Real Madrid only days earlier, and Vincent Kompany now loses one of his most experienced attacking players in the middle of a defining stretch of the season.

His form had finally returned

According to Bayern’s February contract announcement, Gnabry had already reached 311 competitive appearances, 100 goals and 69 assists for the club by the time he signed through 2028. According to Bundesliga’s Serge Gnabry player page, he had also produced eight goals and six assists in 21 league appearances this season. Bayern are not losing a fringe option here. They are losing a senior attacker who had quietly become productive again after a long run of interrupted seasons.

Germany now has a real problem to solve

According to FC Bayern’s Germany vs Switzerland match report, Gnabry scored in Germany’s 4-3 friendly win over Switzerland on March 28, a reminder of how strongly he had pushed himself back into Julian Nagelsmann’s plans. According to FIFA’s Germany fixture page, Germany open Group E against Curaçao on June 14, then face Côte d’Ivoire on June 20 and Ecuador on June 25. That schedule leaves almost no room for a slow recovery, especially with squad decisions and match fitness both working against him once the tournament gets close.

The clock is now working against him

According to Yahoo’s report on Germany’s World Cup concern, the latest reporting suggests Germany are likely to be without Gnabry at the tournament. Bayern have not publicly given an exact return date, so that remains reported expectation rather than official confirmation. Still, the overall picture is clear. Gnabry had rebuilt rhythm at Bayern, he had just scored for Germany, and now both club and country are dealing with a setback that arrives at exactly the wrong time.

Sources: Bundesliga’s April 18 injury report, Bayern’s February contract announcement, Bundesliga’s Serge Gnabry player page, FC Bayern’s Germany vs Switzerland match report, FIFA’s Germany fixture page, Yahoo’s report on Germany’s World Cup concern.