Germany's young midfield star Karl ruled out of World Cup after injury in training

CHICAGO (AP) — Germany's 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his thigh in training on Friday ahead of Germany's final pre-World Cup tuneup against the United States.

Karl was considered one of the top young players in any World Cup squad after a breakout season with Bayern Munich, for which he became the club's youngest ever goal-scorer in the Champions League.

Karl was sent to the hospital for scans and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said it “didn't look so good.”

Hours later, and barely a week before Germany's first game of the tournament, Karl was replaced in the squad by midfielder Assan Ouédraogo under World Cup rules allowing extra players in cases of serious injury.

“I have no idea where to start but it's just indescribably painful being forced to miss the biggest tournament of all,” Karl wrote on Instagram.

“I've done everything to be fit for the World Cup. Unfortunately injuries often come at the unluckiest time.”

German soccer association president Bernd Neuendorf said there were tears at a team meeting as an Nagelsmann broke the news to the squad, German agency dpa reported. Germany plays the U.S. in Chicago on Saturday and then starts its tournament against Curacao on June 14.

Karl made his debut for Germany in March to continue a rapid rise to prominence and has played three games for the national team, including a key role as a starter in last week's 4-0 win over Finland.

Leipzig's 20-year-old midfielder Ouédraogo has played just once for Germany, scoring in a 13-minute appearance off the bench at the end of a 6-0 win over Slovakia in November.

Nagelsmann also said on Friday he would not risk 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer against the U.S. because of continuing concerns over a calf injury he picked up at Bayern last month.

That means Neuer will go into the World Cup having not played for Germany in almost two years. He retired from the national team after the 2024 European Championship but agreed to a recall last month.

Oliver Baumann has been Germany's first choice for much of the time Neuer was away and also started against Finland last week.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Germany's Lennart Karl after the friendly soccer match between Germany and Finland in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

FILE_ Germany's Lennart Karl,in action during the friendly soccer match between Germany and Finland in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

Germany's Lennart Karl during the friendly soccer match between Germany and Finland in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Germany's Lennart Karl, left, is hugged by coach Julian Nagelsmann during the friendly soccer match between Germany and Finland in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Germany's Lennart Karl, left, and David Raum attend a training session in Herzogenaurach, Germany, Thursday May 28, 2026, ahead of the World Cup tournament. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

NEW CHANDIGARH, India (AP) — Lokesh Rahul survived a confident appeal for caught behind and remained unbeaten on 37 runs as India reached 96-1 at lunch Saturday on the first day of a one-off cricket test against Afghanistan.

Rahul added 55 off 78 balls for the second wicket with Sai Sudharsan, who was unbeaten on 32 runs. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the lone batter out, scoring 24 off 32 balls.

Rahul and Jaiswal added 41 off 72 balls after India won the toss and decided to bat.

Rahul edged behind off Ziaur Rahman Sharifi in the 11th over, but the umpire failed to detect it and Afghanistan didn’t ask for a video review.

Jaiswal, meanwhile, had a chance in the sixth over as an edge carried between slip and gully. He hit five fours overall, before he was caught behind off Saleem Safi in the 12th over.

It is only the second test between India and Afghanistan. Previously the teams played in 2018, when India hosted Afghanistan’s inaugural test in Bengaluru and the home side won by an innings and 262 runs.

Overall, it was the 13th test for Afghanistan, and no points from the match will be accrued toward the World Test Championship. India had previously lost 2-0 to South Africa at home in November.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, left, and India's captain Shubman Gill walk after posing with the winners' trophy before the start of play on day one of the cricket test match between Afghanistan and India in New Chandigarh, India, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

India's Kuldeep Yadav warms up before the start of play on day one of the cricket test match between Afghanistan and India in New Chandigarh, India, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

India's captain Shubman Gill, left, and Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi shake hands next to the winners' trophy before the start of play on day one of the cricket test match between Afghanistan and India in New Chandigarh, India, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, left, and India's captain Shubman Gill pose with the winners' trophy before the start of play on day one of the cricket test match between Afghanistan and India in New Chandigarh, India, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)