Germany secured their place at the 2026 World Cup on Monday night in Leipzig, where Julian Nagelsmann’s side beat Slovakia 6-0 to win Group A and confirm automatic qualification.
Needing only a draw to finish top, Germany removed all doubt within minutes. Nick Woltemade, fresh from scoring twice against Luxembourg on Friday, powered in a header from Joshua Kimmich’s cross to give the hosts an early lead. Serge Gnabry soon made it two, guiding a composed finish into the corner after a threaded pass from Leon Goretzka.
Florian Wirtz’s vision then unlocked Slovakia again, sliding a superb ball into the area for Leroy Sane to slot home. The pair combined once more before half time, Wirtz delivering to the back post where Sane prodded in for Germany’s fourth.
The second half lacked the same urgency, yet the scoring continued. Gnabry shifted the ball across the box for substitute Ridle Baku, who drilled in a low strike for his first Germany goal since 2021. Assan Ouedraogo then marked his international debut with a sharp finish into the bottom corner only two minutes after coming on.
Germany’s attacking fluency was matched by defensive control, with the clean sheet their fourth in a row. Slovakia’s best moment came at 1-0 when David Duris was denied by Oliver Baumann from close range, but they struggled against Germany’s aggressive high line and must now settle for a place in the play offs after a bruising night.
