Slovakia surprises Germany and wins 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers: A historic loss for the Mannschaft

Slovakia vs Germany: Shock in the Qualifiers Opening
On an exciting football night in the capital Bratislava, the Slovakia national team achieved a historic victory over their counterpart Germany with a score of 2-0 in the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The result was considered the biggest surprise in the opening of the European qualifiers, as it is the first time the German national team has lost an away match in the history of World Cup qualifying.
Goal Details in the Slovakia vs Germany Match
First Goal (Minute 42): Scored by David Hanko taking advantage of a catastrophic defensive error from the German defense.
Second Goal (Minute 55): Scored by David Streliak with a powerful shot that the German goalkeeper could not save.
Despite Germany's attempts in the second half through the forwards, Slovakia's solid defensive organization and the brilliance of their goalkeeper decided the match.
Germany's Performance: A Real Crisis in Organization
The German team appeared defensively confused with numerous intercepted passes.
The midfielders were unable to impose their usual control.
Despite offensive attempts through the attacking duo, focus was lacking in the final touch.
This loss comes after a series of negative results in the UEFA Nations League against Portugal and France, increasing pressure on the coaching staff.
Slovakia: Discipline and Tactics Write History
The Slovakia national team played with great realism, relying on quick counterattacks.
The duo Hanko and Streliak led the attack with high effectiveness.
Defensive discipline and collective support were the most prominent weapons in achieving victory.
Group Standings After the First Round
Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Slovakia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Germany | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Northern Ireland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Luxembourg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The result places Slovakia at the top of the group early on, while the German team starts the qualifiers from the last position.
Head-to-Head Record Between Slovakia and Germany
Since 1994, the two teams have faced each other in 6 matches.
Germany won 4 of them, while Slovakia won only twice (friendlies).
The last official meeting was in Euro 2016, which ended with Germany winning 3-0.
The 2025 victory is Slovakia's first-ever against Germany in a major official match.
Impact of the Result on the Qualifying Journey
Germany: The loss put the Mannschaft under significant pressure from the first round, making winning upcoming matches crucial.
Slovakia: The victory gives the team a huge morale boost and increases their chances of competing for a qualification spot.
Conclusion
The 2-0 victory of Slovakia over Germany in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers was not just a surprising result, but a historic event that could change the course of the group.
The German national team faces tough questions about its future, while Slovakia celebrates its biggest victory in its football history.