Germany kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying marketing campaign on Thursday evening with a vital away fixture in opposition to Slovakia on the Tehelné Pole Stadium in Bratislava. Softfootball stories that the four-time world champions enter as heavy favourites, whereas the hosts look to spring a shock in entrance of their house crowd.
Slovakia chase solely their second-ever look on the World Cup as an unbiased nation, however their current kind is shaky. They arrive into the sport with out a win in 5 matches this 12 months, together with disappointing defeats to Greece and Israel. Accidents make the duty more durable, with Lukáš Haraslín, Denis Vavro and Tomáš Suslov all sidelined, whereas László Bénes and Ivan Schranz face late health considerations.
Germany, ranked ninth by FIFA, arrive seeking to reassert their dominance after a combined Nations League marketing campaign. Julian Nagelsmann names a robust squad regardless of absences for Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. Younger skills Paul Nebel and Nnamdi Collins are handed call-ups, and Antonio Rüdiger returns to guide the defence.
German has uploaded the crew’s beginning XI through its official X account:
The top-to-head historical past is firmly in Germany’s favour. Since Slovakia’s independence, the groups meet for the seventh time, with Germany profitable 4 of the earlier six. All three aggressive clashes additionally go Germany’s approach, and every of the final 4 encounters produce a minimum of three targets.
With the expanded 48-team World Cup, Slovakia know a playoff spot stays life like in the event that they safe factors in opposition to Georgia and Israel later within the marketing campaign. However in opposition to a German facet that win their final 18 World Cup qualifiers away from house, the problem tonight is big.
