Germany signed off from the national team summer break with a sobering record at the UEFA Nations League Final Four in Munich and Stuttgart. But what does the schedule look like for the DFB team in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, exactly one year from now?
Many questions remained unanswered after the third-place match on June 9, 2025, in Stuttgart. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann heads into the summer break with a lot of work to do.
The matches against eventual winners Portugal (1-2) in the semi-finals and France (0-2) in the third-place play-off revealed one thing above all: the German team is still a long way from the world elite.
His players need to "develop the mindset of a winning team and consistency in beating top teams," Nagelsmann had demanded before the mini-tournament in Germany.
The German national team, pictured here before the Nations League match against France (0-2) on June 8, 2025, in Stuttgart, will need to significantly improve to be among the favorites for the World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Photo: Imago Images / Sportfoto Rudel
World Cup Qualification Germany Group: Where is the DFB team heading to?
"By their own standards," wrote Kicker Sports Magazine on June 10, 2025, "the head coach and his team failed spectacularly in Munich and Stuttgart despite the home advantage. The two defeats – though they came about in different ways – brutally exposed just how far the national team still has to go to win the World Cup, a goal Nagelsmann stubbornly set after the quarterfinal exit to Spain at last year’s home EUROs."
Yes, the road back to the top of world football is long for Germany – but there's still a year to go until kickoff in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The journey is the goal.
So how does this journey continue after the summer break? Germany has been drawn into a relatively easy World Cup qualifying group, facing Northern Ireland, Slovakia, and Luxembourg.
A total of 48 nations will take part in the 2026 World Cup – more than ever before.
The UEFA zone will send 16 participants. Already qualified are defending champions Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and newcomer Uzbekistan from the CONBEOL group, Asia, and Oceania.
World Cup 2026 Qualification Schedule Germany: Kick-off in September
Germany’s World Cup Qualifying Group A begins on September 4, 2025.
The last meeting with Northern Ireland was in the group stage of EURO 2016 in France; Slovakia were eliminated by Germany in the round of 16 (3-0) in the same tournament. The last matches against Luxembourg (7-0 in the 2006 World Cup year) and Northern Ireland (6-1 / 2019) were clear wins for Germany.
Other European groups, like Qualification Group F with new Nations League winners Portugal, Hungary, Ireland, and Armenia, or Group I with Italy – absent from the last two major tournaments – Norway, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova, seem much tougher by comparison.
World Cup Qualification Germany Venues: Nagelsmann returns to familiar ground
Germany will travel for their qualifying opener on September 4, 2025. In Bratislava, they’ll face Slovakia and superstar Milan Skriniar of Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
On September 7, 2025, Germany will host Northern Ireland in Cologne (RheinEnergieSTADION).
The next home game is on October 10, 2025, against Luxembourg in Sinsheim (PreZero Arena), where Nagelsmann enjoyed successful times as Hoffenheim coach (2016 to 2019).
Is Germany qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
No! The DFB team enters qualification only in late summer due to reaching the quarterfinals in the Nations League.
A key match in the group could take place on October 13 in Belfast, away against Northern Ireland’s “Boys in Green.”
Their most valuable player is Liverpool defender Connor Bradley. According to the portal Transfermarkt.de, Bradley’s market value is estimated at 30 million euros.
When does Germany play World Cup qualifiers?
This autumn belongs to the national team! In Group A, head coach Julian Nagelsmann’s players will be in action during every international break starting from September 4, 2025 – in a four-team group instead of a five-team one.
The return leg in Luxembourg is on November 14, 2025, followed by a home game against Slovakia in Leipzig on November 17, 2025 – hopefully securing the World Cup ticket.
One thing is clear: Germany is practically expected to win this group! If they don’t, and only finish second, they’ll have to go through the playoffs on March 26 / 31, 2026.
Der Autor: Carsten Germann berichtet seit 2002 aus erster Hand über den englischen Fußball, u. a. für DIE WELT, BILD am SONNTAG und seit April 2021 auch als leitender Redakteur beim Portal Fussballdaten.de. Zudem gab er mit den Büchern Football’s home (2007) und Absolute Dynamite! (2010) zwei Sammelbände mit seinen Fußball-Reiseerlebnissen aus Großbritannien heraus. Für DIE FUSSBALLREISE schreibt er regelmäßig über den Insel-Kick.