Nico Schlotterbeck injured a medial collateral ligament in his left ankle during Germany's 2-1 Group E victory over Ivory Coast on June 20, 2026. The injury occurred early in the match, forcing him to be substituted at half-time by Antonio Rüdiger [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

A scan conducted on June 21 confirmed the ligament tear and ruled Schlotterbeck out for several months, ending his World Cup campaign [1, 5, 6, 7]. Germany's team announced on June 22 that due to tournament rules, they cannot call up a replacement player [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Schlotterbeck will remain with the squad in the United States for now [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

Germany has already secured the top spot in Group E and advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in 12 years [1, 4, 5, 6]. They are scheduled to face Ecuador in their final group match on June 25, 2026 [1, 4, 6].

Schlotterbeck had played the full match in Germany's opening 7-1 win against Curaçao, where he scored a goal [2, 3, 6, 7]. Coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his disappointment, saying, "Schlotti will be greatly missed on the pitch as an outstanding defender, especially his excellent build-up play. It could have been his World Cup." He added, "We all tried to lift his spirits – fortunately, he is a very positive character who is already looking ahead again. It is a very positive sign that he will initially remain here within the team, because he also has an influence off the pitch" [1, 7].

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken showed sympathy for Schlotterbeck and expressed confidence in his recovery. "I feel extremely sorry for Nico; he was in really good form and an indispensable part of our national team's starting line-up," Ricken said. "But Nico showed last year how he can come back even stronger after an injury. He'll do the same this time too; we're convinced of that" [7]. Schlotterbeck signed a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund until 2031 in April 2026 [2, 3].

The remaining centre-back options for Germany include Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Waldemar Anton, and Malick Thiaw [1, 2, 3, 4, 7]. On social media, Schlotterbeck called on fans to support the team, stating, "Now the most important thing is the team. No matter the circumstances, let's unite and support this Germany team chasing the World Cup" [6].