Germany stormed into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a resounding 6-0 victory over Slovakia in their final qualifier.
The hosts, who needed only a draw to secure top spot, left nothing to chance and overwhelmed their opponents with relentless pressure.
Meanwhile, Nick Woltemade opened the scoring in the 18th minute, heading home his fourth consecutive goal in three matches. Serge Gnabry missed a chance soon after, but he quickly redeemed himself by converting a Leon Goretzka pass in the 29th minute. Furthermore, Florian Wirtz set up Leroy Sane for a curling finish in the 36th before assisting him again five minutes later to make it 4-0.
Slovakia, which had beaten Germany in Bratislava earlier in September, struggled to cope with the pace and creativity of the hosts. “We played a really good game tonight. From the first to the last second, we did not allow anything at the back and were creative,” said Woltemade, reflecting the team’s confidence.
In addition, substitutes Ridle Baku and 19-year-old Assan Ouedraogo added goals in the second half. Ouedraogo’s strike made him the youngest player to score for Germany on debut, adding another highlight to the emphatic win.
Moreover, Germany finished top of their group with 15 points, while Slovakia settled for second with 12 and now face a playoff in March. The victory marked Germany’s 21st qualification for the World Cup, second only to Brazil’s 23.
Ultimately, the Germans set their sights on winning the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. After disappointing first-round exits in 2018 and 2022, the team aims to restore its reputation as a global football powerhouse.
