Germany secured their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 finals in commanding fashion on Monday, crushing Slovakia 6-0 in their final qualifier. Die Mannschaft, needing only a draw or a win to guarantee top spot in their group, pummeled their opponents into submission with four goals in the first half alone. The victory sends Slovakia into a playoff round scheduled for March, while Germany heads to the World Cup for the 21st time, second only to Brazil.
The four-time world champion, looking to restore their reputation following first-round exits in the last two World Cups, left nothing to chance and started with relentless pressure. Nick Woltemade opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a header, marking his fourth consecutive goal in the last three matches for Germany.
Serge Gnabry doubled the lead in the 29th minute, latching onto a perfect pass from Leon Goretzka. The quick succession of goals continued as Leroy Sané bagged a brace, capitalizing on two slick assists from Florian Wirtz in the 36th and 41st minutes to put the game effectively out of reach by halftime.
Slovakia, which had surprisingly beaten Germany in the reverse fixture in September, had no answer to the host’s attacking fluency. Striker Woltemade praised the team's decisive performance, stating: “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.” He added, "It is great to play for Germany. We have now qualified for the World Cup.”
The pace subsided after the break, but Germany’s depth was demonstrated by their substitutes. Ridle Baku added a fifth goal, and teenager Assan Ouédraogo scored the sixth, becoming the youngest player to score for Germany on his debut at 19 years old. The victory ensures Germany finished top of their group with 15 points, three points clear of second-placed Slovakia, and secured their fourth straight clean sheet in qualification.
With their passage to the finals in North America secured, Germany has openly set their goal on winning the 2026 World Cup to erase the memory of their disappointing campaigns in 2018 and 2022. The qualifying success provides a much-needed boost for the national team, whose previous major tournament final appearance came when they lifted the World Cup trophy in 2014. Slovakia, despite the heavy loss, now has a second chance via the playoffs.