World Cup qualification: Nagelsmann grins – although not all opponents have been determined

Julian Nagelsmann stood in the Zurich cold in a stylish three-piece suit and smiled. The possible opponents in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup do not present the national coach with any major tasks, regardless of the big games in the Nations League against Italy. On the way to the “maximally successful World Cup” that Nagelsmann wants, the games against Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg or Erling Haaland’s Norwegians, Israel, Estonia and Moldova are small intermediate steps.

“In the end, every player wants to go to the World Cup and so we should beat everyone,” said the national coach calmly after the draw for the qualifying groups in Switzerland, according to which two constellations are possible for the DFB selection. If the DFB team wins against the Italians in the quarter-finals of the Nations League in March, Germany will end up in Group A with Slovakia. The nations surrounding the Norwegians would be the opponents as losers.

“In general, we are probably the favorites in both groups, also in terms of name,” said Nagelsmann. On paper, Norway around super striker Haaland is the strongest possible opponent. Accordingly, Group A could be “a bit easier,” said Nagelsmann. “But to do that we have to beat Italy first, that’s the next step.”

The two games on March 20th in Milan and three days later in Dortmund against the old rival quickly became the focus again during Nagelsmann’s short trip to Switzerland. “Yes, that is a very big excitement and a lot of anticipation,” said the national coach. Italy has “improved extremely” since being eliminated in the European Championship round of 16 last summer.

If the DFB selection survives the knockout round, it would be in the final tournament for the first time in June 2025, which would then most likely also be held in Germany. “We would be very happy,” said Nagelsmann. The fans are “still hot” after the home European Championship.

The division into one of the six groups of four in the European qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, which is necessary due to the tight schedule, is an additional bonus. Especially since with this constellation of opponents, possible tactics against Italy in March in order to have an easier route to qualification are ultimately pointless.

It’s good that Group A is perhaps a little bit easier, said Nagelsmann. “Then when you win, no one can blame you for being so stupid as to win the game.” It’s important to “approach every game in such a way that you can win it. That’s the most important thing, that you set an example.”

The winners of the twelve groups qualify directly for the final round. The runners-up in the group will play playoffs for four more World Cup places with the four best-placed and not yet qualified group winners of the Nations League, which include Germany. This means: Even if the DFB selection loses all games in the World Cup qualification group, it would be in the playoffs in March 2026.

Nagelsmann will therefore draw great motivation from the immediate goal against Italy and in the summer as well as from the really big goal at the finals in a year and a half. “I have already said that I would like to become world champions with the team,” said the national coach, who would not start the World Cup qualification with his team as finalists in the Nations League until September. But, the national coach added, that’s what all World Cup participants would want.