All eyes will be on the Stade de Luxembourg this Friday night (kick-off 19:45 GMT) as Luxembourg take on Germany in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
For Luxembourg, it’s another chance to test themselves against one of Europe’s giants — and maybe cause an upset on home soil. For Germany, on the other hand, there’s pressure to deliver. They’re level on nine points with Slovakia, and will be eager to take all three here to move clear at the top of the group.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side have shown flashes of their best form recently, but consistency is still the goal. Expect them to go full throttle from the start, while Luxembourg will look to stay organised, frustrate the visitors, and make the most of any chances that come their way.
Team form
Julian Nagelsmann’s side have enjoyed a solid start to their qualifying campaign, winning three of their four matches so far. Their only slip came in a 2–0 defeat to Slovakia in their opening qualifier match in September, which left them level on nine points with their rivals at the top of Group A. Germany will see this as a key opportunity to pull ahead and reinforce their position as group leaders.
It’s been a tough run for Luxembourg, who have lost all of their qualifying games to date and are yet to secure a single point. Their only goal so far came in the opening fixture against Northern Ireland, when Aiman Dardari slotted the ball away in the 30th minute, but they eventually fell to a 3–1 defeat. Since then, goals have been hard to come by, and they’ll be hoping that home support can help lift their spirits against a high-flying German side.
Head-to-head
These teams have only met twice before, and both occasions went firmly in Germany’s favour.
The first clash was a friendly in 2006, where Germany were victorious in a 7-0 battering. It was a one-sided contest that showed the gap between the teams at the time, and the difference in quality does not appear to have changed since then.
Their most recent clash came in October, during Germany’s home fixture in this qualifying campaign, and it followed a similar pattern. The hosts were dominant once again, securing a comfortable 4–0 victory with a confident and professional display.
Team news
Germany will be without several key players heading into Friday’s clash. Kai Havertz remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Jamal Musiala (ankle) and Antonio Rudiger (hamstring) are also unavailable for selection.
There’s some positive news for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has returned to training with Barcelona as he nears the end of his recovery from a back injury. However, he’s unlikely to feature for the national team just yet, with Germany’s coaching staff keen not to rush his return.
Up front, Niclas Fullkrug will also miss out due to a calf problem, leaving Nagelsmann with a few selection headaches as he looks to balance his squad.
For the hosts, Enes Mahmutovic is set to miss out on the squad, though the reason for his absence remains unclear. Apart from that, Luxembourg are expected to name a largely familiar lineup, as they look to stay organised and resilient against one of Europe’s elite teams.
Key stats
Germany score an average of two goals per game, whereas Luxembourg average 0.3.
Luxembourg concede more than two goals per game (2.5), while Germany concede less than one (0.8).
Germany’s surprise defeat to Slovakia stands as their only loss in 54 away World Cup qualifying matches.
Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich both lead Germany’s goal tally in the qualifiers, with two goals each.
Prediction
Germany go into this one as clear favourites, and it would be a real shock if they didn’t come away with a convincing performance.
Even with a few key players missing, Nagelsmann’s side have more than enough quality to take control of the game and keep Luxembourg on the back foot.
Luxembourg might get the odd counterattack, but Germany’s strength in depth and attacking firepower should see them through comfortably in the end.
