Germany secured its place in the 2026 World Cup on Monday night with a decisive 6-0 victory over Slovakia. This match, held in Leipzig, marked their strongest performance in the qualifying campaign. The upcoming World Cup will take place in North America from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Germany’s Qualifying Journey
Initially, qualifying for the World Cup seemed straightforward for Germany, a four-time champion. Their group included Luxembourg, Northern Ireland, and Slovakia. However, the path became rocky after a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava.
Germany bounced back with wins against Northern Ireland (3-1 and 1-0) and Luxembourg (4-0 and 2-0) but faced challenges. Nonetheless, their match against Slovakia in Leipzig showcased their resilience and capability.
Match Highlights
- 18th minute: Nick Woltemade opened the scoring.
- 29th minute: Serge Gnabry extended the lead.
- 36th & 41st minutes: Leroy Sané scored twice, with Florian Wirtz providing two key assists.
- 67th minute: Ridle Baku scored shortly after entering the game.
- 79th minute: Assan Ouédraogo also scored his first international goal.
World Cup Participation and Expectations
This will be Germany’s 21st appearance in the World Cup, which has been held 23 times. Despite its rich history, Germany was eliminated in the group stage in both 2018 and 2022. As they prepare for the next tournament, they are expected to be a seeded team in the draw on December 5 in Washington.
Germany faces stiff competition from teams like Argentina, Spain, France, England, and Portugal. Despite their historical dominance, they are seen as outsiders for the semifinals, having not reached this stage in major tournaments since 2016.
Looking Ahead
Germany’s revitalization began during the Euro 2024 held on home soil and continued through the 2025 Nations League group stage. The recent decisive victory has raised hopes of a potential turnaround.
The team is focusing on solidifying its attacking front, which has struggled since the 2014 World Cup victory. Nick Woltemade, 23, has emerged as a key player, scoring crucial goals in recent matches.
Looking forward, Germany needs to maintain momentum in the international window at the end of March, leading up to the World Cup. A friendly against Ivory Coast in Stuttgart is scheduled for March 30, where they hope to finalize their squad for the tournament.
