Germany Targets 2026 World Cup Glory Under Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann sets sights on 2026 World Cup title

Germany's coach Julian Nagelsmann expresses confidence, he believes winning the World Cup is a healthy goal for Germany. Read more about their chances.

“I wish that as a team we stabilise, that we have fewer of these moments after the last two defeats. The most important thing is...”

Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has set a bold goal for the team: winning the 2026 World Cup. Ahead of their first qualifier against Slovakia, Germany, a four-time world champion, is favored to advance in Group A, which also includes Luxembourg and Northern Ireland.

Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of focusing on the process, stating, “We need to focus on every game, not have moments of doubt because of the big goal.” Despite being knocked out in the group stage in the last two World Cup editions, Nagelsmann remains optimistic about Germany's chances.

WE'RE BACK! The road to the @FIFAWorldCup begins in September and here is our squad to get things started! 🤩🇩🇪#DFB #GermanFootball #GermanMNT pic.twitter.com/8eOgZfWp9s

— German Football (@DFB_Team_EN) August 27, 2025

Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, emphasized the importance of setting goals, stating, “It is healthy to set goals. It is difficult for a team or even an individual to go through life without a goal they are working towards, that is worth fighting for.” He expressed his team's eagerness to make a winning start in their World Cup qualifying campaign, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

Nagelsmann's confidence in winning the World Cup might not be universally shared among fans, given Germany's recent performances. The team was knocked out in the group stage at the last two World Cup editions and suffered defeats to Portugal and France in the Nations League. Despite these setbacks, Nagelsmann believes that having a big goal like winning the World Cup is essential for motivation.

Read Also: Havertz to Miss Germany's World Cup Qualifiers Due to Injury

Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, remains optimistic about winning the 2026 World Cup, despite the team's recent struggles. “I am 100% convinced that no player would answer differently or they would not need to travel with us,” Nagelsmann said. Germany was knocked out in the group stage at the last two World Cup editions, and some fans may not share Nagelsmann's confidence.

ℹ️ Wir bitten alle, die am Sonntag unser Länderspiel gegen Nordirland besuchen und direkt am Stadion parken möchten, ihre Parktickets unbedingt vorab online zu erwerben: https://t.co/R9Xb4F4lG2

Wir empfehlen generell eine Anreise mit den öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln. Wir freuen… pic.twitter.com/pQBsm5NEzg

— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) September 2, 2025

Germany's World Cup Qualifying Campaign

Germany begins their World Cup qualifying campaign against Slovakia on Thursday. They are favored to advance in Group A, which also includes Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of focusing on each game and the process of qualifying, rather than getting caught up in the bigger goal of winning the World Cup.

Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, emphasized the importance of focusing on the process, stating, “But we need to focus on the process until we get there, on every game. To not have moments of doubt because of the big goal. The process is decisive to reach goals.” Despite being the overwhelming favorites to advance in Group A, which includes Luxembourg and Northern Ireland, Nagelsmann stressed the need for his team to stay focused on each match.

Recent Performance

Germany's recent performances have been underwhelming, with losses to Portugal and France in the Nations League. The team was also eliminated in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals under Nagelsmann's charge. Despite these setbacks, Nagelsmann remains optimistic about Germany's chances in the World Cup qualifying campaign.

“It is about rhythm,” said Nagelsmann. “I wish that as a team we stabilise, that we have fewer of these moments after the last two defeats. The most important thing is to win matches and qualify and we hope to do it with dominance.”

Key Points to Watch

Focus on the Process: Nagelsmann stressed the importance of focusing on each game and the process of qualifying, rather than getting caught up in the bigger goal of winning the World Cup.

Group A Favorites: Germany is the overwhelming favorite to advance in Group A, which also includes Luxembourg and Northern Ireland.

Stabilizing Performance: Nagelsmann hopes his team can stabilize their performance and build momentum after recent losses 

Germany's Upcoming Schedule:

• September 3 (Thursday): Germany vs. Slovakia in Bratislava (World Cup qualifier)
• September 7: Germany vs. Northern Ireland in Cologne (World Cup qualifier)