After the quarter -finals of the Nations League against Italy, it is clear which teams the German team will meet in the qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Because Germany prevailed against Italy in the Nations League, the team in group A plays against Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
4.9.2025 | Slovakia | * |
7.9.2025 | Northern Ireland | Cologne |
10.10.2025 | Luxembourg | Sinsheim |
13.10.2025 | Northern Ireland | * |
14.11.2025 | Luxembourg | * |
17.11.2025 | Slovakia | Leipzig |
*not yet confirmed
Germany also plays in the Nations League final tournament.
- In the semi -finals Germany will meet Denmark or Portugal in Munich on June 4th.
- The final Both take place in Munich and the game for 3rd place in Stuttgart on June 8th.
Playoffs remain as an emergency solution
Europe will receive 16 places in the World Cup tournament enlarged from 32 to 48 teams from 32 to 48 teams. For the teams who will miss the direct path to the 2026 World Cup in qualification, the playoffs that take place on March 26 and 31, 2026 remain:
- In addition to the twelve second group seconds of the World Cup qualifiers, the four best not yet qualified Nations League teams play in the playoffs-there are a total of 16 places in the playoffs in which four World Cup starting places are awarded.
- Four teams each play a winner in four tournament trees to determine the remaining four European World Cup participants.
- The playoffs take place in March 2026.
- Due to the group victory in the Nations League, Germany has a place in the playoffs if the team should actually miss the first two places in its group.
After the quarter-finals of the Nations Leage, there is generally clarity for the European World Cup qualification. All qualifying groups at a glance:
- Group A: GermanySlovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
- Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
- Group C: Loser Portugal/Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus
- Group D: Winner France/Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
- Group E: Winner Spain/Netherlands, Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria
- Group F: Winner Portugal/Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Armenia
- Group G: Loser Spain/Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
- Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
- Group I: Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Republic of Moldova
- Group J: Belgium, Wales, Northern Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
- Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
- Group L: Loser France/Croatia, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faröer, Gibraltar