Germany, Netherlands qualify for World Cup 2026 on last day

Germany and Netherlands went connected extremity sprees arsenic they wrapped up FIFA World Cup qualification connected the last matchday.

Four-time World Cup champion Germany yet secured their spot successful the 2026 variation with a 6-0 rout implicit Slovakia connected Monday.

It volition beryllium Germany’s 21st quality successful the World Cup, with the lone 2 editions the state has missed being the inaugural 1930 World Cup it did not participate and the 1950 tourney it was not allowed to enter.

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European rival the Netherlands besides qualified connected Monday with a 4-0 triumph implicit Lithuania to implicit an unbeaten tally done radical play.

The roadworthy was much melodramatic for Germany, who opened their Group A play with a nonaccomplishment to Slovakia. They recovered from lone their 3rd nonaccomplishment ever successful World Cup qualifying to reel disconnected 5 consecutive victories. Germany lone needed a gully connected Monday to unafraid a spot successful the 2026 World Cup, but enactment the crippled retired of scope with 4 goals successful the archetypal half.

Germany’s astir caller World Cup rubric came successful 2014, but they person failed to beforehand retired of the radical signifier successful the past 2 editions. The Netherlands are inactive seeking the country’s archetypal World Cup trophy, having finished runner-up 3 times.

Slovakia and Poland present caput to the playoffs, with the gully taking spot connected Thursday.

Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo scores his side’s 2nd extremity from the punishment spot against Lithuania successful their World Cup UEFA Qualifier, Group G lucifer astatine Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, connected November 17, 2025 [Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters]