Germany are refusing to entertain the possibility of slipping into next year’s 2026 World Cup qualification playoff as they prepare to host Slovakia in their decisive qualifier on Monday, head coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Sunday.
A win — or even a draw — will secure Germany’s automatic qualification for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. Germany currently sit atop Group A with 12 points, ahead of Slovakia on goal difference. Slovakia had stunned the Germans 2-0 in their opening qualifier in Bratislava back in September.
However, a home defeat on Monday could drop Germany to second place and send them into the March playoffs — an outcome Nagelsmann is determined to avoid.
“No, it is not an issue (that we could fail). Very few teams would focus on what could go wrong,” Nagelsmann told reporters, speaking just two days after Germany’s 2-0 win over Luxembourg.
“We are maybe a bit nervous ahead of tomorrow. A match like this has a special appeal. We would have liked to win in Slovakia, but that’s behind us,” he said.
“We are confident we will play well and get the three points.”
Germany, four-time World Cup champions, are aiming for a major turnaround after back-to-back group-stage exits in the last two tournaments — the worst period in their World Cup history.
