Post-Portugal Defeat: Germany's Struggle for Top Pot in World Cup Qualifiers
Following Portugal's setback: Achieving the top World Cup position still seems distant - Following Portugal-Pleite, Outstanding World Cup Grouping Without Doubt
Needless to say, the 1:2 loss to Portugal has put a damper on Julian Nagelsmann's lofty World Cup ambitions for the Football National Team. The shot at securing a coveted spot in the top pot for the 2026 America World Cup group draw has become a distant dream. In the upcoming World Cup preliminary round, tough matches loom against heavyweights like Argentina, Spain, or France.
Following the Portugal defeat, the team lost 11.71 points in the FIFA World Ranking. The ranking is critical for the seeding process, and if Italy triumphs in their World Cup qualifier against Norway on Friday, the gap to the top-9 team will widen beyond 20 points.
Climbing the Ladder in World Cup Qualifiers
In order to come anywhere close to the top-9 ranking after the World Cup qualifiers in November, Germany will have to climb at least one spot. Currently, only around 20 points are achievable in the six World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg. Moreover, Croatia and Morocco are rapidly closing in on the 11th and 12th spots in the FIFA Ranking, posing a significant challenge to the German team.
The third-place Nations League match against France or Spain on Sunday in Stuttgart (15:00 CET/RTL/DAZN) carries considerable weight, not just for bragging rights, but for the FIFA Ranking as well. A win against these fawned-over opponents can net the team nearly 15 points, which would be a massive boost in the complex FIFA Ranking system.
Unfortunately, if Germany fails to secure a spot in the top pot, they could be paired with Portugal early in the World Cup group phase again—an enfuriating prospect given Cristiano Ronaldo's charisma and Portugal's previous triumph against the German team. An unappetizing confrontation with co-host Mexico in challenging climatic conditions also remains a possibility.
- Portugal
- Football National Team
- Julian Nagelsmann
- DFB Team
- World Cup Qualifiers
- Spain
- France
- Nations League
- FIFA
- Germany
- Munich
- America
- Argentina
- FIFA World Ranking
- Italy
- The defeat against Portugal has made it challenging for Julian Nagelsmann and the Football National Team to secure a spot in the top pot for the 2026 America World Cup, given the tough matches against heavyweights like Spain or France in the World Cup preliminary round.
- If the DFB Team can win against Spain or France in the third-place Nations League match on Sunday in Stuttgart, they can gain nearly 15 points, which could significantly help them climb the ladder in World Cup Qualifiers and avoid unfavorable pairings in the World Cup group phase, such as another encounter with Portugal or a challenging game against co-host Mexico.
