Germany set to host Nations League finals as World Cup qualifiers beckons

UEFA have confirmed that Germany will host the Nations League finals this June, with Munich and Stuttgart confirmed as the venues for the four-team tournament.

The announcement follows Germany’s victory over Italy in the quarter-finals, who had provisionally secured hosting rights under UEFA’s stipulation last December.

The semifinal line-up sees hosts Germany face 2019 hosts Portugal at the Munich Football Arena on June 4, while Spain meet France the following night at Stuttgart Stadion. 

The defeated semi-finalists will contest the third-place match on June 8 in Stuttgart, with the final taking place later that evening in Munich.

Munich and Stuttgart both hosted matches during the 2024 European Championship.

The  Nations League will take place between the end of the current season and the beginning of FIFA’s new-look Club World Cup six days later on June 14.

Germany are looking to win silverware on home soil for the first time since the 2006 World Cup.

Now, in its fourth edition, the previous final four competitions have been held in Portugal, Italy, and the Netherlands. 

It will be reigning champions Spain’s third appearance at the finals and the second appearance for France and Portugal.

With the confirmation of the UEFA Nations League semifinal venues, the Germans have also gotten confirmation of their opponents in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Germany has been placed into Group A of qualifying, where they’ll face Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg both home and away. 

It’s a very tame group for Julian Nagelsmann’s side, who should comfortably qualify from this group without dropping a single point. 

Germany kickstart their campaign on September 4 away in Slovakia and will finish on November 17 at home against Slovakia. 

Unsurprisingly, Germany have a stellar record against all of the nations in their World Cup qualifying group.