Neuer retired from international football following the conclusion of Euro 2024 on home soil, ending a 124-cap career that included Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.
The position appeared settled — Marc-André ter Stegen was expected to finally claim the number one shirt, only to suffer a back injury that required surgery. Baumann stepped into the breach and performed impressively across the qualifying campaign, earning the right to be considered Germany's starting goalkeeper.
Nagelsmann's decision to recall Neuer has proven deeply controversial. A poll conducted by Bild found more than 60 per cent of respondents opposed to the move, with the majority feeling Baumann had earned his place. The head coach was unapologetic when confirming the decision at the squad announcement press conference.
"Yes, I intend to do that," he said when asked directly whether Neuer would start. "Everyone knows the aura that surrounds Manu. In my eyes, it is the right decision."
He also offered a pointed defence of Baumann, aware of the optics of publicly displacing a goalkeeper who had done nothing wrong.
"Oliver Baumann is a world-class backup goalkeeper."
Germany are in Group E and face Curacao in Houston on June 14, Ivory Coast in Toronto on June 20 and Ecuador in New Jersey on June 25 as they chase a record-equalling fifth World Cup title. The full squad also includes Leon Goretzka, who is understood to have agreed a move to AC Milan this summer, in what is expected to be his final appearance in a Germany shirt before leaving Bayern Munich as a free agent.
Notable inclusions are Liverpool's Florian Wirtz, Bayern striker Lennart Karl who scored on his international debut earlier this season, and Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United. Leroy Sané of Galatasaray and Pascal Gross of Brighton & Hove Albion also make the cut.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart).
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United).
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool).
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United).