tournament in the USA
What’s next for the DFB team? The path to the 2026 World Cup
With the 1-0 victory in Northern Ireland, the DFB team has come a little closer to the 2026 World Cup. Now Julian Nagelsmann’s team wants to take the final steps.
What England captain Harry Kane has already achieved, his Bayern teammate and captain of the German national soccer team, Joshua Kimmich, still wants to achieve: get a ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the USA.
However, the DFB team still has to be patient – and, above all, collect more points.
What is the current situation?
With the hard-fought 1-0 away win in Belfast against the Northern Irish, Kimmich and Co. got back on track. The starting position is better again than after the 0-2 defeat against Slovakia in September.
The DFB team is now at the top of Group A with nine points after four games, level on points with Slovakia, who are in second place. The Northern Irish follow behind with six points. Luxembourg is in last place with zero points.
What else do you need for the World Cup ticket?
If the German team wins against Slovakia in Luxembourg on November 14th and in Leipzig on November 17th, they will be guaranteed participation in the 2026 World Cup in the USA. If that doesn’t work, the big math games could begin.
As second or third place in the group, Germany would have to go into the playoffs. Two wins in knockout duels would be necessary there next spring. 16 teams will then play for the remaining four places. It is irrelevant whether a team previously finished second, third or fourth in its group. Whoever finishes among the top four teams in the Nations League is automatically qualified for the playoff tournament.
What happens if there is a tie in qualification?
If two or even three teams have the same number of points after the final sixth matchday, the goal difference from all games is decisive. This currently also ensures that Germany (five goals difference) is ahead of Slovakia (three goals difference) despite the tie on points.
If the goal difference is the same at the end, the goals scored count. The direct comparison would only be used afterwards.
When will the draw be made for the 2026 World Cup?
The draw will take place on December 5th in Washington at 6:00 p.m. CET (12:00 p.m. local time). A total of twelve groups from A to L are drawn from four pots. Because the qualification is not completed then, there will also be six place holders. The position of the hosts is already secure: Mexico plays in Group A, Canada in Group B and the USA in Group D.
For the German team in November it’s not just about a direct ticket to the World Cup, but also about a place in pot one. In addition to the three hosts, this will be filled with the nine best teams in the world rankings. Germany was last in twelfth place, but could still overtake Croatia and Morocco. Italy, currently in tenth place, also ahead of Germany, would be eliminated if they missed a direct ticket.
Sources: with material from the DPA news agency
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
