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Get ready for an exhilarating football journey, as Julian Nagelsmann inches closer to determining his 2026 World Cup strategy. Securing a 2-1 victory against Italy in the Nations League quarterfinals first leg has set the stage for glory. The decisive confrontation is looming on Sunday in Dortmund at 20:45 CET/RTL.
Nagelsmann's coveted scheme:
Should Germany clinch another victory against Italy, they'll advance to the Nations League final tournament, which will unfold in Munich and Stuttgart from June 4 to 8. The German squad will square off against either Portugal or Denmark in the opening clash on June 4 in Allianz Arena – a thrilling face-off with the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo could occur if Portugal turns the tide.
The showdown final will be hosted in Munich on June 8, while the third-place playoff will take place in Stuttgart on the same day. Prospective adversaries could include the winners of the France-Croatia and Spain-Netherlands encounters, which are currently tied at 1-2 and 2-2 respectively after the first leg.
Kicking off the World Cup qualifying campaign in September, Germany will tackle away matches against Slovakia (September 4) and Northern Ireland (in Cologne, September 7), followed by October home games versus Luxembourg (Sinsheim, October 10) and away to Northern Ireland (October 13). The future of Germany's participation in the World Cup will hang in the balance during the November 14 match in Luxembourg and the subsequent showdown with Slovakia at home in Leipzig on November 17.
Plan C:
If Germany falters against Italy, they'll miss out on the Nations League final four, and Nagelsmann's World Cup qualifying campaign would commence in June, in a group consisting of five teams. Instead of battling with Ronaldo, Erling Haaland would be Germany's foe. The journey would begin with an excursion to Norway on June 6, followed by a home match against Moldova in Stuttgart on June 9.
Upcoming engagements include a home encounter against Estonia in Cologne (September 6) and an away game versus Israel (September 9), potentially without the travel to Israel due to the current situation. The crew will venture to Estonia (October 11) before hosting Israel in Sinsheim (October 14). The final skirmishes will take place against Moldova (November 13, away) and Norway (in Leipzig, November 16).
Format:
Europe's 16 finest teams will gather for the 2026 World Cup, marking the debut of a total of 48 teams. The 12 group winners will secure a spot directly. Each group runner-up will meet four unqualified Nations League group winners in two elimination rounds in March 2026, vying for the remaining four European World Cup tickets. The tournament will unfold across the USA, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
A significant landmark on the path to the World Cup is the group draw, which is expected to occur shortly before Christmas. Currently, there's a strong possibility that Germany will leapfrog Italy in the FIFA World Rankings. This ranking is crucial since the top nine teams will be seeded in Pot 1, ensuring a smoother journey and avoiding teams like Argentina, Spain, and France in the group stage.
- Italy
- Ronaldo
- Germany
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Dortmund
- Erling Haaland
- Stuttgart
- German Team
- Munich
- France
- World Cup Qualifiers (Group A)
- Spain
Key Teams in Germany's World Cup Qualifiers
Regardless of Germany's performance in the Nations League, their World Cup qualifiers opponents will remain the same. Here's an overview of the teams they'll face:
- Group A:
- Germany
- Slovakia
- Northern Ireland
- Luxembourg
This group configuration was established on December 13, 2024, and remains unaffected by Germany's results in the Nations League[1][2].
- If Germany fails to secure victory against Italy in the Nations League, they will miss out on the Nations League final four and transition to the World Cup qualifiers, where Erling Haaland's team could become their main adversary.
- Following the Nations League, Germany will face away matches against Slovakia and Northern Ireland, followed by home games against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland, as part of Group A in their World Cup qualifiers.
- The World Cup of 2026 will feature 48 teams, with Germany avoiding potential powerhouse rivals like Argentina, Spain, and France in the group stage, due to the FIFA World Rankings.
