In the last two qualifying games, the German national soccer team wants to secure their World Cup ticket – everything you need to know about it.
When and where against whom?
On Friday (November 14th, 2025) the DFB team will first play in Luxembourg, then on Monday (November 17th) they will face Slovakia in Leipzig. Kick-off is at 8:45 p.m.
When does the DFB team meet?
National coach Julian Nagelsmann gathers his squad in Wolfsburg on Monday (November 10th, 2025). The players arrive individually by midday. There will be a public training session at 3:30 p.m., 4,000 fans are expected.
What is the constellation in the World Cup qualification?
The World Cup ticket is within your grasp. The flaw of the false start in qualifying has almost been resolved. After the 2-0 defeat in Slovakia, Julian Nagelsmann and the national soccer team won the following three games against Northern Ireland (3:1/1:0) and Luxembourg (4:0). The DFB team therefore goes into the final qualifying round as leaders of Group A with nine points, ahead of Slovakia and Northern Ireland with the same points (6 points).
Does Germany really need two wins?
That would be the best way. If the DFB team wins in Luxembourg and against Slovakia, they will definitely qualify for the World Cup. But it can also get more complicated. There are a total of six other variants, such as Germany ending up in first place with four, three, two or even just one point from the last two games, which secures a direct route to America.
Celebrating German players at the World Cup qualifier in Northern Ireland
However, the results of the parallel games between Slovakia and Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland against Luxembourg are also relevant for these constellations. In the event of a tie, the goal difference from all games and not the direct comparison of two or more teams is decisive.
What does national coach Nagelsmann say?
Nagelsmann wants to avoid any calculations. “With two wins we want to make our World Cup qualification perfect – and on top of that we want to win the first draw for the World Cup groups in four weeks. Then we can push forward and flesh out our plans for 2026.”said the national coach.
What happens if Germany misses out on winning the group?
Even in second or third place in Group A, Germany can still qualify for the World Cup. Then the team would have to make it to the playoffs.
As second in the group, Germany would be among the four best teams in the playoff draw on November 20th in Zurich and could definitely play the first of two knockout games at home at the end of March 2026.
Third in the group, a tough opponent would be waiting in the first round. As of now, Italy or Poland would be possible opponents in an away game. Germany secured the right to take this detour by winning the group in the Nations League last year as a World Cup parachute.
Nagelsmann will definitely want to avoid using it. Especially since the four-time world champion Germany would then only end up as a placeholder in the fourth pot in the World Cup draw on December 5th – with difficult group opponents in the final round as a consequence.
Germany can no longer finish fourth in the group in the qualification because Luxembourg is already relegated.
Why are two wins and first place so important?
Nagelsmann has been preaching to look at the world rankings for months. It is the criterion for the seeding list in the group draw. After a lot of ups and downs, it now seems certain: If Germany wins both games, their pursuers Croatia and Morocco could no longer overtake Germany in 10th place in the ranking.
Since Italy is in danger of missing out on direct qualification, the DFB team, in tenth place, would be one of the nine best-placed and certainly qualified World Cup teams. Then you would be in the best draw. Nagelsmann would be spared a big chunk of the World Cup like Spain or Argentina in the group phase.
Who did national coach Nagelsmann nominate?
Cologne’s Said El Mala is part of the DFB squad for the first time. In addition to the 19-year-old, Nagelsmann nominated the returnees Leroy Sané and Malick Thiaw.
Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich, Frankfurt central defender Robin Koch and Dortmund attacker Maximilian Beier are no longer part of the 25-man squad. Players like Robin Gosens, Deniz Undav and Angelo Stiller are not included.
Nagelsmann also has to make do without several injured top players such as goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, defender Antonio Rüdiger and offensive aces Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala. The strikers Niclas Füllkrug and Tim Kleindienst are also not available.
There is Injury worries?
Nagelsmann is worried about the use of Nico Schlotterbeck. “It got thick overnight and doesn’t look quite optimal.”said the national coach about the Borussia Dortmund central defender’s foot injury. Schlotterbeck sustained the injury in a 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV.
Where can you watch the games live?
The game in Luxembourg on Friday (8.45 p.m.) will be shown on RTL, the game against Slovakia on Monday (8.45 p.m.) will be broadcast by ZDF.
The Sportschau will be present at both games with an audio stream and a live ticker on sportschau.de.
What happens after the two games?
December 5th is marked heavily in the national coach’s calendar. Then the World Cup groups will be drawn at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington (6 p.m./CET). After that, Nagelsmann not only knows the three group opponents, but also the venues and kick-off times that are important for tournament logistics. Then the DFB can also make a decision for the team quarters.
Are there any more games planned?
Subject to direct qualification, test matches have already been agreed on March 30th in Stuttgart against Ivory Coast and on May 31st in Mainz against Finland. Then we should go to America. Two more test opponents are still open, one for the end of March and one for the final World Cup overseas at the beginning of June.