The 2026 World Cup looms for DFB Nagelsmann, pegging all bets on victory against Portugal
Nagelsmann stakes everything on Portugal's success
Soccer Nagelsmann Fortifies the Team, Unusual Lineup Possible for the DFB Squad
Crunch the numbers!
Julian Nagelsmann is gunning for the Nations League title. However, the performance at the final tournament has a significant impact on the 2026 World Cup as well. A victory for the German national soccer team in the Nations League would award them an impressive number of points for the world rankings, making the coveted spot in the top pot for the final round next summer almost guaranteed.
But, should there be a defeat in the semi-final against Portugal on Wednesday (9:00 PM EST/ZDF, DAZN, and in the ntv.de live ticker), the closely contested race with Italy for the possibly final spot in pot 1 might be lost.
The result: Germany would end up in pot 2 for the World Cup draw in December. This means a tough opponent like Spain, Argentina, France, or England could be looming. Alternatively, group A with co-host Mexico could also pose issues, with unpleasant weather and venues to boot.
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Earning points in style
Even a loss in the potential final against Spain or France would result in lost points for the DFB team. Italy could regain the lead with a win against Moldova a day later. The final standings after the completion of the World Cup qualifiers are decisive for the draw.
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The Netherlands, Portugal, and Belgium can still catch up on placements six to eight. However, Croatia and Morocco are trailing closely, but they won't be able to score many more points in their World Cup qualifiers. The final rankings will still depend on the calculations, even though European nations need to qualify for the World Cup first. Germany will go up against Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg in their group in the second half of the year.
Source: ntv.de, ara/dpa
Julian Nagelsmann Soccer National Team World Cup 2026 Nations League
Additional Insights:
- Qualification process: To qualify for the World Cup, Germany must compete against teams from Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg.
- Seedings for World Cup: Teams are seeded for the World Cup based on the cumulative effect of their performance in the UEFA Nations League and FIFA World Rankings.
- Potential Group Stage Opponents: Based on Germany's seeding, potential opponents in the group stage could include teams from UEFA, CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, and CONCACAF (if Germany is seeded, they might avoid other top UEFA teams in the group stage). The actual opponents will be determined after the World Cup draw.
- Julian Nagelsmann, regardless of his preparation, may express concerns about not being able to lead the DFB team to victory in the European-leagues' Nations League, considering the tough competition from teams like Portugal.
- Given the importance of sports-analysis and the upcoming challenges, it's crucial for Nagelsmann to focus on the Premier-League strategies for the DFB squad, as their performance in the Nations League could influence Germany's seeding in the 2026 World Cup.
- If Germany is seeded in pot 2 for the World Cup draw in December, they might face tough opponents like Spain, Argentina, France, or England, making it more challenging for them to secure a coveted spot in the tournament.
