The DFB team wants to secure their World Cup ticket against Slovakia – a draw is enough. If Germany loses, it will have to take the detour Playoffs take. The result also has an impact on the draw pots at the World Cup.
When and where against whom?
On Monday (November 17th, 2025, 8:45 p.m., live in the audio stream) the DFB team will play against Slovakia in Leipzig. Kick-off is at 8:45 p.m.
What is the situation before the last matchday?
Germany will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup with a win or a draw. Since the goal difference before the direct comparison counts in World Cup qualification, the 0-2 defeat against Slovakia in the first leg is not relevant.
In the event of another defeat against Slovakia, Germany will have to take the detour via the European playoffs.
Sports show, November 17th, 2025 8:44 p.m
How are the playoffs going?
- There are four European mini-playoff tournaments with a total of 16 teams, four of which qualify for the World Cup.
- The twelve group runners-up from the qualification as well as four teams based on their results in the qualification are there Nations League.
- The semi-finals and finals will each be played in just one game.
- According to the world rankings, the eight best runners-up from the World Cup qualification have home advantage in the semi-finals
- Home rights for the four finals will be drawn in advance.
- The draw will take place on November 20th.
Semi-finals against Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland or Wales/North Macedonia
Based on their world ranking position, Germany would be among the four best teams. In the semi-finals, the German team would have home advantage against a team that qualified via the Nations League access list: Romania, Sweden or Northern Ireland as well as Wales/North Macedonia.
Which draw pot would Germany end up in for the World Cup draw?
The world ranking is the criterion for the seeding list in the group draw. The three host countries USA, Canada and Mexico, as well as the nine best-seeded teams in the world rankings, form draw pot 1. Germany is currently in 9th place in the world rankings. That would be enough for draw pot 1, which would mean that Germany would avoid group opponents such as Spain, Argentina and France.
| Pl. | team | Points |
|---|---|---|
9 | Germany | 1716.70 |
10 | Croatia | 1712.61 |
11 | Morocco | 1711.47 |
12 | Italy | 1702.06 |
Italy no longer has an international match, remains with the current score and has no chance of finishing ninth. The Croatians, who have already qualified, will play in the final World Cup qualifier in Montenegro on Monday evening (11/17/25), while Morocco will play a friendly against Uganda on Tuesday (11/18/25).
If Germany wins against Slovakia, they will definitely be in draw 1.
If Germany draws, neither Croatia nor Morocco are allowed to win their games so that Germany ends up in Pot 1.
If Germany loses and only qualify for the World Cup through the playoffs, they will end up in draw pot 4.
| scenario | Germany lands in… | |
|---|---|---|
Germany wins | Draw pot 1 | |
Germany draw, Croatia and Morocco do not win | Draw pot 1 | |
Germany draw, Croatia wins | Draw pot 2 | |
Germany draw, Morocco wins | Draw pot 2 | |
Germany loses | draw pot 4* |
* Assuming FIFA proceeds in the same way as it did at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. At that time, FIFA generally placed the playoff winners in draw pot 4. Whether this will be the same in 2026 has not yet been confirmed.
What happens after the two games?
December 5th is marked heavily in the national coach’s calendar. Then in the “John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts“in Washington The World Cup groups were drawn (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 further games planned for the DFB team?
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.