Even after the defeat in Slovakia, the DFB team still has a good chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The detour via the playoffs is quite realistic.
The team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann can still secure the ticket for the world tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada after the start of the World Cup qualification in Slovakia.
To do this, the team has to win its five remaining games against Luxembourg, Northern Ireland and again against Slovakia.
Final against Slovakia threatens
In the worst case, on November 17th in Leipzig there will be a kind of finale in the second leg against the Slovaks. And that when the Slovaks also go off the pitch in their next four games against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland – which is not unrealistic.
In the best case, Slovakia fails. Then for Germany the way to the group win would be free with five own victories.
High victories would be helpful
If the point equality with the Slovaks, the better goal difference counts. Many goals in each of the two duels with Northern Ireland and Luxembourg would help in any case. As a group winner, Germany would then be in Pot 1 or 2 at the World Cup draw on December 5 in Washington. The world rankings are decisive for this. In order to land in Lost pot 1, Germany has to stand ninth at least ninth. Currently, however, the DFB team is only in eleventh place.
Germany would have Playoff-Platz securely
It is already clear: Germany has a place in the playoff games in March in any case – regardless of cutting off in the quality group.
This is due to the Nations League. As one of four group winners in the A-League of the UEFA competition, Germany has already secured participation in the playoffs.
Because there the twelve group runners and the four best group winners from the Nations League, which are not yet qualified, play four more World Cup tickets in two KO-rounds.
In the case of the playoffs, pot 4 threatens
In the World Cup draw, Germany would only be a placeholder for a playoff winner in the event of a qualification-presumably in the worst pot 4 with heavy World Cup group opponents as a mortgage.