NGC Team's Crucial Clash with Portugal: Implications for the World Cup
The significance of the Portugal encounter lies in its World Cup implications. - The significance of the Portugal match lies in its impact on the World Cup.
Julian Nagelsmann is hell-bent on nabbing the Nations League crown, but the stakes are high beyond just the title. The result of the upcoming semi-final face-off against Portugal on June 21st (9:00 PM CET, ZDF and DAZN) carries significant implications for the 2026 World Cup.
If the victorious German national soccer team emerges from this UEFA melee, they'll gather enough points to secure a top slot in the seeding pot for the upcoming summer's World Cup showdown. But another heartbreaking defeat like the one Portugal might serve up risks blowing Germany's chances of making pot 1 and sending them packing to pot 2.
These are no ordinary stakes – being drawn into pot 2 could mean locking horns with football giants such as Spain, Argentina, France, or England in the group stage. Alternatively, their group might include fellow World Cup host Mexico, with all the pesky high temperatures and awkward venues that come with that territory.
Nagelsmann issued a stern warning back in March when the team missed a vital opportunity to snatch the 9th place in the world rankings following a last-minute equalizer against Italy in Dortmund.
Complex score-keeping rules
It's clear that some serious number-crunching is in order. The FIFA ranking for World Cup seeding relies on a complex formula where each game is weighted differently.
A win against Portugal would shoot Germany up to 1730.27 points, overtaking Italy's 1718.31 points. However, an Italy win against Norway on June 24th would only temporarily set their points at 1725.80, still below Germany's projected tally.
But even a loss in the unfortunate event of Germany making it to the Nations League final against Spain or France could cost them points. Italy could snatch the lead again with a victory over Moldova on June 24th. The final FIFA rankings following the World Cup qualifiers are what really matters for the World Cup draw.
The Netherlands, Portugal, and Belgium are still chasing after positions from 6th to 8th. However, Croatia and Morocco lurk just behind them, but they won't have time to pile up too many more points in their World Cup qualifiers.
Left to overcome
Qualifying for the World Cup remains a daunting task. Germany has Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg to tackle in the remaining qualifiers.
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Nations League
- German national soccer team
- Portugal
- Italy
- Munich
- Head coach
- Final tournament
- Germany
- Spain
- France
- Mexico
- German national team
- UEFA
- ZDF
- DAZN
- Argentina
- England
- In the context of the Nations League, a victory against Portugal by the German national soccer team in the semi-final on June 21st could boost their points and secure a top slot in the seeding pot for the 2026 World Cup, preventing them from being drawn against football giants like England, France, or Spain.
- The complex score-keeping rules for the FIFA ranking for World Cup seeding indicate that even a loss in the Nations League final, but a win against Norway by Italy on June 24th, could potentially dethrone Germany from their position and affect their World Cup draw outcomes.
