Overview

• Recent wins over Luxembourg and Northern Ireland lifted Germany in the FIFA rankings and put qualification back in its own hands.
• A FIFA provision that limits penalties for Nations League finals losses boosts Germany’s seeding prospects.
• Pot 1 will include the three hosts plus the nine highest‑ranked qualified teams, and the group‑stage draw is on 5 December in Washington, D.C.
• Germany and Slovakia are level on nine points in Group A, with their 17 November match set to decide the group winner and automatic berth.
• Only England has qualified so far from Europe, while Italy trails Haaland‑led Norway and could be forced to the play‑offs, which would exclude Italy from Pot 1.