“Final” of the qualification on Monday
This is how Germany qualifies for the World Cup
November 15, 2025 – 11:49 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
After the narrow victory in Luxembourg, Germany remains first in the qualifying group. But how does the DFB team make it straight to the World Cup?
None of the German national players exuded euphoria after the international match on Friday. With a 2-0 win in Luxembourg, the DFB team won their penultimate game in World Cup qualification. However, the performance was not at all convincing, especially in the first round. Defender David Raum summed it up soberly: “It was important that we win the game and get the three points. That’s what we did.”
The last game in Group A will take place in Leipzig on Monday. Germany meets Slovakia. Both teams have twelve points, each winning four games and losing one. Since goal difference is more important than direct duels in FIFA competitions, Germany can breathe a sigh of relief.
Because the DFB team is the league leader with a goal difference of +7 (10:3 goals), while Slovakia is “only” +4 (6:2). And only the group winner goes directly to the World Cup, the second place has to go to the playoffs. The starting position for Monday is clear.
If Germany winsgroup victory is certain. Slovakia would finish qualifying in second place as neither Northern Ireland nor Luxembourg can catch them.
If Germany plays a drawgroup victory is certain. Slovakia would have the same number of points, but the goal difference speaks for Germany.
If Germany losesthe DFB team slips to second place and Slovakia goes straight to the World Cup. For national coach Nagelsmann’s team that would mean: playoffs in March. The DFB would have to cancel the already agreed test match against Ivory Coast in the same month.
Given the starting point that even a draw would be enough to win the group, the situation is even more relaxed from a German perspective. Nevertheless, the DFB team will play for victory if they want to achieve another goal. And that is: to end up in pot 1 in the World Cup draw.
The place in the FIFA world rankings is important for this. The 2026 World Cup will be held for the first time with 48 participants. These are divided into twelve groups with four teams each. Each team has a group leader. The three hosts are set as group heads. Mexico is in Group A, Canada in Group B and the USA in Group D. The nine remaining group heads are determined by the world rankings. Germany is currently in tenth place there.
But since Italy, in ninth place, will most likely miss out on winning the group in the World Cup qualification, the DFB eleven would be in tenth place enough to finish at the top of the group and be drawn against easier opponents. However, if they draw against Slovakia, Croatia, who have already qualified for the World Cup, could overtake them and snatch the place away from Germany.