Germany and the Netherlands have secured their places at the 2026 World Cup after dominant performances in their final qualifying matches. Germany, a four-time World Cup champion, emphatically booked their ticket with a 6-0 victory over Slovakia, overcoming a shaky start to their qualifying campaign. The Netherlands, perennial contenders, also clinched qualification with a comfortable 4-0 win against Lithuania, maintaining an unbeaten record throughout their group stage.
Germany's road to qualification wasn't without its bumps. A surprising 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in their opening match raised concerns. However, the team responded strongly, stringing together five consecutive wins to top their group. In their decisive match against Slovakia in Leipzig, Germany needed only a draw but left no doubt with a commanding performance. The goals came from Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry, a brace from Leroy Sane, Ridle Baku, and a debut goal from 19-year-old Assan Ouédraogo. This victory marks Germany's 21st appearance in 23 World Cup editions, a testament to their consistent presence on the world stage. They missed the inaugural 1930 World Cup and were barred from participating in 1950. While Germany boasts a record-tying four World Cup titles (1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014), they have struggled in recent tournaments, suffering group stage exits in both 2018 and 2022.
The Netherlands also enjoyed a successful qualifying campaign, finishing top of Group G ahead of Poland. Their 4-0 victory over Lithuania sealed their place in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Dutch have a rich World Cup history, having finished as runners-up three times (1974, 1978, and 2010). Despite their near misses, they remain a formidable force, reaching the quarterfinals in the 2022 World Cup after failing to qualify in 2018.
With Germany and the Netherlands securing their spots, Slovakia and Poland will now head to the playoffs, with the draw scheduled for Thursday. They join England, France, Portugal, Croatia and Norway as the European teams who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The remaining automatic qualification spots will be decided on Tuesday as group play concludes.
Both Germany and the Netherlands will be eager to improve upon their recent World Cup performances. Germany, in particular, will be looking to re-establish themselves as a global powerhouse after disappointing exits in the last two tournaments. The Netherlands, with their consistent performance in the qualifiers, will aim to finally break their World Cup jinx and lift the trophy for the first time.
