Germany Secures World Cup Spot with Dominant Win Over Slovakia
November 17, 2025, 04:58 PM ET
Germany put any World Cup fears to rest with an impressive 6-0 victory against Slovakia, solidifying their place in next year’s tournament. This victory comes after a rocky start in the qualifying rounds for the four-time champions.
Germany’s coach, Julian Nagelsmann, praised his team’s performance, stating, “A brilliant game from our team, with a lot of pressure.” With this win, Germany will appear in their 21st World Cup out of 23 tournaments, missing only the first edition in 1930 and being barred from competing in 1950.
Joining Germany in the World Cup is the Netherlands, who also triumphed in their group after a stellar 4-0 win over Lithuania. This performance allowed the Dutch to finish the qualifying phase unbeaten, edging out Poland for the top position.
While Germany outperformed Slovakia, who will now enter the playoffs after finishing second in Group A, the Netherlands also needed to secure a favorable outcome, which they achieved as they kickstarted their match with an early goal from Tijjani Reijnders.
Germany’s breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Nick Woltemade netted the opener. This was followed by goals from Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané before halftime, effectively swinging the momentum in their favor. Late in the match, substitutes Ridle Baku and Assan Ouédraogo added to the scoreline, securing a resounding victory.
“I think we’re back on the road,” Nagelsmann said, expressing confidence in his team’s future as they prepare for the World Cup without the added pressure of playoffs.
The UEFA playoff draw is set for this Thursday, with 16 teams vying for four spots in the tournament, to be held in March 2026. The World Cup draw will take place on December 5.
Sources include PA and The Associated Press.
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