Slovakia Stuns Germany 2-0 in Historic World Cup Qualifier Upset

In a surprising and historic match on Thursday, September 4, 2025, Slovakia defeated Germany 2-0 in a World Cup qualifying game, marking Germany's first-ever away loss in World Cup qualification history. This outcome has put Germany’s hopes of direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in jeopardy.

The decisive goals came from Slovak players David Hancko and David Strelec, capitalizing on errors in Germany's defense, which struggled to break through Slovakia's solid defensive setup. The victory was particularly momentous for Slovakia, a team that last qualified for the World Cup in 2010.

Germany’s squad featured several new players, including Nick Woltemade from Newcastle making his third appearance and 21-year-old Nnamdi Collins debuting at right back. Despite the talent, Germany under coach Julian Nagelsmann showed a lack of emotional intensity and determination, which Nagelsmann openly criticized after the game, even questioning whether to prioritize grit over skill in future selections.

Coach Nagelsmann acknowledged the uphill challenge ahead, stating that Germany now needs to win all remaining five qualifying matches to avoid a playoff scenario for World Cup entry. Historically, Germany (including the era of West Germany) has maintained a strong record in World Cup qualifiers, never having lost an away qualifier until this match, and participating in every World Cup since 1954.

This shocking defeat comes amidst ongoing European qualifiers where other notable results include Spain’s smooth 3-0 victory over Bulgaria, Turkey’s narrow 3-2 win against Georgia, and the Netherlands being held to a 1-1 draw by Poland.

The Slovak victory over Germany is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of World Cup qualifying and highlights Slovakia’s rising competitiveness on the international stage.