Julian Nagelsmann clinches the World Cup qualification ticket

Germany Kicks Off World Cup Qualifiers on Thursday

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup has begun for the German national team. The World Cup draw, which takes place on December 5 at 6:00 PM CET in Washington, will determine their opponents in the tournament. But before then, the team has six qualifying games to navigate, starting with an away match against Slovakia in Bratislava on Thursday.

Germany, led by Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann, is considered the favourite in their qualifying group, which also includes Northern Ireland, Luxembourg, and Slovakia. If they manage to win all six qualifiers, they are likely to be seeded in the top pot, ensuring a more favourable draw in the tournament.

However, Nagelsmann and his team have a 'backup plan' in case they fail to win their group. Germany is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, setting up a potential early World Cup match against a top team like Argentina, Spain, or France.

The team's first home game will be against Luxembourg in Sinsheim on October 10, followed by a return match against Northern Ireland in Belfast on October 13. A home game against Northern Ireland in Cologne follows the match against Slovakia on Sunday. The group A decider will take place on November 14 in Luxembourg and November 17 in Leipzig against Slovakia.

Kick-off for all six games is always at 20:45. All six qualifying games will be broadcast on free TV, with ARD, ZDF, and RTL sharing the broadcasts.

Nagelsmann was disappointed by the team's inability to hold onto a three-goal lead against Italy (3:3 draw) in March and their squandered lead against Portugal (1:2 loss) in the Nations League semi-finals. However, he has made some changes to the team, with Joshua Kimmich returning as a six in the defensive midfield, bringing additional order to the team.

Three newcomers have also been added to the DFB squad: Nnamdi Collins, Paul Nebel from FSV Mainz 05, and Finn Dahmen from FC Augsburg. The team aims to lift the World Cup trophy, and with their strong squad and the support of the German fans, they are certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Regardless of their final position in the group, the national team is assured of a direct ticket as group winners. Nagelsmann also has two opportunities for friendly matches in late March, assuming direct qualification is secured. Let's cheer on the German team as they strive to bring the World Cup back to Europe!