Football World Cup 2026: World Cup qualification: That’s what the draw is about for Nagelsmann

The short business trip before Christmas will end with unpredictability for Julian Nagelsmann – albeit due to success. The national coach will fly to Zurich on Friday for the qualifying draw for the 2026 World Cup. After the national team reached the quarter-finals of the Nations League, it is now clear: Nagelsmann will not know exactly which opponents the DFB team will face on the way to the world tournament until the end of March.

Twelve groups will be drawn from five pots at FIFA headquarters (from 12 p.m.), six with four nations and six with five nations. The game is played in a return game. The group winners qualify directly for the 2026 finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico, while the runners-up play in the playoffs.

Germany is placed in Pot 1 and will be drawn twice as a wild card during the draw: once in the event that the DFB team wins the quarter-finals of the Nations League against Italy (March 20th/23rd) and once in the event that they loses. As a winner, Germany would play in one of the six groups of four; as a loser, one of the six groups of five would also be possible. The background is that the quarter-final winners play the Nations League final tournament in June – and have no time for the World Cup qualification.

For Nagelsmann, preparation for World Cup qualification can only really begin after the March games at the earliest. Up to seven opponents can be considered by then. For the national coach, however, this should also be of secondary importance. The declared next goal is to take part in the Nations League final tournament, which will probably be held in Germany. Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is only an interim step; Nagelsmann wants to win the title in America.

A total of 54 teams are taking part in the World Cup qualification. The four best-placed and not yet qualified group winners in the Nations League also play in the playoffs. Even if the DFB selection did not even come second in its qualifying group, the chance of qualification would still remain due to first place in the table in the Nations League group phase.

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