Julian Nagelsmann is set to secure a spot in the World Cup

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada begins on March 24, with Germany set to start its qualifying campaign against Slovakia. The German national team, currently the winner of League A in the UEFA Nations League, has been drawn into a group of four with Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg.

Germany's first match will be played on March 24, followed by a game against Northern Ireland on March 27. Coach Nagelsmann is optimistic about his team's chances, expressing confidence that they will progress towards the World Cup without significant challenges from their group opponents.

Nagelsmann has not been shy in praising the team's newcomers, including Nnamdi Collins, Paul Nebel, and Finn Dahmen, who have been mentioned frequently in the DFB squad. Joshua Kimmich, who had a disappointing performance in the Nations League Final, returns to the defensive midfielder position, expected to bring additional order to the team's tactical formation.

The ultimate goal for the German national team is to win the World Cup. If Germany manages to win all six qualifiers, it will likely be seeded in the top pot for the World Cup draw. However, if Germany ends up in the second pot, it could face an early World Cup matchup against a top-tier team like Argentina, Spain, or France.

Europe is allocated 16 spots for the World Cup finals, with 12 teams qualifying directly and the remaining four determined in playoffs in March 2026. As the winner of League A in the UEFA Nations League, Germany is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs if it fails to win the qualifying group.

The German national team will gather at its quarters in Herzogenaurach on March 20 for the first time in the World Cup season. The exact consequences for the tactical formation and the choice for right-back are yet to be announced.

All six qualifying games will be broadcast on free TV, with ARD, ZDF, and RTL sharing the broadcasts. The kick-off for all games is at 20:45. The US President Donald Trump announced that the World Cup draw will take place on December 5.

Nagelsmann wants his team to shape the six qualifying games in a way that leaves no doubts within the games. The team's ultimate goal is to secure a place in the World Cup and make a strong showing in the tournament. With the qualifiers about to begin, the excitement is building among fans as they eagerly await the team's journey towards the World Cup.