Germany wait for World Cup draw as squad remains open

Germany didn't have an easy journey on their way to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but booked their ticket on Monday evening with a 6-0 thrashing of Slovakia.

Slovakia handed Germany their first-ever World Cup qualifier defeat away from home in the opening match, which sent the team into a mini-crisis amid criticism from fans and pundits and fears that the direct qualification wouldn't come.

The Germans then won all of their five games left, but were hardly convincing on the pitch - until the decisive meeting against Slovakia on Monday.

"The team did really well. There's nothing to complain about today. I'm proud of how the team fought against adversity. We had a bumpy start to the qualifiers, and today the pressure was on. Everyone played an extremely good game," coach Julian Nagelsmann told broadcasters ZDF after the game.

Hope for pot one

Missing the direct qualification and potentially missing the World Cup altogether would have been a major blow for Germany, especially after two group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

"I told the lads that the World Cup is the greatest thing that can happen to a player in his career, to be able to play for his country at the World Cup. In Germany, people aren't used to that being up in the air," captain Joshua Kimmich said.

Germany will now hope to be in pot one for the group stage draw on December 5. That will be determined by the FIFA rankings to be released on Wednesday.

The host nations - United States, Canada and Mexico - and the nine top countries in the FIFA rankings will be in pot one. Germany are currently 10th.

World Cup squad still open

Nagelsmann said that he expects Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Antonio Rüdiger and Marc-André ter Stegen to return soon.

However, he stressed that he cannot guarantee a World Cup nomination even for his long-term injured regulars.

"Kai has had a minor setback, but he is doing well and his knee is recovering nicely. Jamal doesn't have any major problems anymore. But like Kai, he also has to come back to the club first," he said.

"Everyone will be challenged. I can only promise that I will put together the best possible selection. We also have room for more players, not just 20 field players, but 23."

Nagelsmann also mentioned VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, who wasn't named to the squad this month.

"He too has legitimate hopes of making it to the World Cup. I haven't decided yet, but the door is definitely not closed."

The goalkeeper question

Nagelsmann will also have to make a decision on who will be his starting goalkeeper during the World Cup.

Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen was named Germany's number one after Manuel Neuer retired following Euro 2024.

But due to two serious injuries, Ter Stegen has barely played for the national team since his promotion.

Alexander Nübel and Oliver Baumann got chances of bidding for the position, with the later taking the spot in the starting line-up.

"We're very happy with him at the moment. He is doing a great job. We will see what happens next year," Nagelsmann said.

Ter Stegen, meanwhile, has also lost the number one position at Barcelona and to have a chance to return to Germany he needs to establish himself "either at Barça or at another team," Nagelsmann said.