Germany kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday night with a crucial away fixture against Slovakia at the Tehelné Pole Stadium in Bratislava. Softfootball reports that the four-time world champions enter as heavy favourites, while the hosts look to spring a surprise in front of their home crowd.
Slovakia chase only their second-ever appearance at the World Cup as an independent nation, but their recent form is shaky. They come into the game without a win in five matches this year, including disappointing defeats to Greece and Israel. Injuries make the task harder, with Lukáš Haraslín, Denis Vavro and Tomáš Suslov all sidelined, while László Bénes and Ivan Schranz face late fitness concerns.
Germany, ranked ninth by FIFA, arrive looking to reassert their dominance after a mixed Nations League campaign. Julian Nagelsmann names a strong squad despite absences for Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. Young talents Paul Nebel and Nnamdi Collins are handed call-ups, and Antonio Rüdiger returns to lead the defence.
German has uploaded the team’s starting XI via its official X account:
The head-to-head history is firmly in Germany’s favour. Since Slovakia’s independence, the teams meet for the seventh time, with Germany winning four of the previous six. All three competitive clashes also go Germany’s way, and each of the last four encounters produce at least three goals.
With the expanded 48-team World Cup, Slovakia know a playoff spot remains realistic if they secure points against Georgia and Israel later in the campaign. But against a German side that win their last 18 World Cup qualifiers away from home, the challenge tonight is enormous.
