A FIRST-HALF header from Nick Woltemade was enough as Germany edged a dogged Northern Ireland 1-0 in Belfast on Monday to stay top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
Woltemade, Newcastle’s recent €75 million signing from VfB Stuttgart, put the visitors in front with a header after 31 minutes, scoring his first goal in Germany colours.
“It was a very important three points for us,” Woltemade told Germany’s RTL, adding, “in this atmosphere and in a bit of an ugly game, you have to win and we did well”.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann agreed the win was “ugly”, saying: “It definitely wasn’t our nicest game — the stadium was extremely emotional and we had to fight for every ball”.
The win kept Germany top of their group on goal difference ahead of Slovakia, who beat Luxembourg 2-0 on Monday.
Both Germany and Slovakia have three wins in four matches, with only the first-placed side guaranteed to qualify for next year’s World Cup. The Germans host Slovakia in Leipzig in November.
Despite the loss, Northern Ireland are only three points off the lead. Their final two fixtures are away against Slovakia and at home to Luxembourg, who have lost four from four.
Looking to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 1986, Northern Ireland came into the match with wind in their sails after a shock 2-0 win over the previously unbeaten Slovakia.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann also wanted to keep the momentum from Friday’s 4-0 win over Luxembourg, naming the same starting team two games in a row for the first time since Euro 2024.
The Germans survived an early scare when Daniel Ballard’s 14th-minute strike was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.
Just past the half-hour mark, Woltemade nodded in a David Raum corner to put Germany in front.
Only one of Woltemade’s 17 goals for Stuttgart last season was a header, but the 1.98-metre striker has clearly worked hard to make the most of his height advantage.
Since making his big-money move to Newcastle in the summer, Woltemade has scored three of his five goals for club and country with his head.
Karim Adeyemi had a golden chance to double Germany’s lead just after the break when put through on goal by Florian Wirtz, but the Borussia Dortmund forward hit his shot straight at the home goalkeeper.
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Northern Ireland forced a corner in the hope of pinching a point in stoppage time, but the Germans held firm, Bayern Munich defender Jonathan Tah clearing the ball away.
Sweden's Alexander Isak dejected after the loss Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Elsewhere, Sweden’s faint hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were all but extinguished as the 2018 quarter-finalists fell to a 1-0 defeat against Kosovo in Stockholm.
Fisnik Asllani fired a first-half effort that allowed the Kosovans to complete a remarkable double over their opponents and boost their own hopes of booking at least a play-off place.
Sweden — who featured £125million (€144 million) man Alexander Isak up front — remain rooted to the bottom of Group B on one point.
Leaders Switzerland dropped their first points of the campaign as they were held to a goalless draw by Slovenia in Ljubljana.
Group D leaders France dropped their first points of the campaign as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Iceland in Reykjavik.
Didier Deschamps took his side into the game knowing they could seal their ticket to the finals if they won and second-placed Ukraine failed to beat Azerbaijan in the other match.
But the night did not go to plan as Victor Palsson gave the hosts a 39th-minute lead, and despite two goals in five second-half minutes from Christopher Nkunku and Jean-Philippe Mateta putting France ahead, Kristian Hlynsson’s 70th-minute effort gave Iceland a point.
A win would not have been enough anyway for Deschamps’ men as Ukraine nudged to a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan in Krakow.
Two Kevin De Bruyne penalties proved enough for Belgium to jump to the top of Group J after a 4-2 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Joe Rodon fired the hosts into a seventh-minute lead, but De Bruyne levelled with his first spot-kick and Thomas Meunier rounded off a devastating counter-attack to give Belgium the lead with 24 minutes gone.
De Bruyne’s second penalty extended Belgium’s lead late in the second half, and although substitute Nathan Broadhead gave Wales hope, Leandro Trossard confirmed Belgium’s win late on.
The result means Wales are likely to have to fight it out with North Macedonia for a play-off place, and their hopes were boosted after their rivals were held to a 1-1 draw by Kazakhstan in Skopje.
European 2026 World Cup qualifying results on Monday:
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Newcastle's €75 million man on target as Germany edge Northern Ireland
A FIRST-HALF header from Nick Woltemade was enough as Germany edged a dogged Northern Ireland 1-0 in Belfast on Monday to stay top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
Woltemade, Newcastle’s recent €75 million signing from VfB Stuttgart, put the visitors in front with a header after 31 minutes, scoring his first goal in Germany colours.
“It was a very important three points for us,” Woltemade told Germany’s RTL, adding, “in this atmosphere and in a bit of an ugly game, you have to win and we did well”.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann agreed the win was “ugly”, saying: “It definitely wasn’t our nicest game — the stadium was extremely emotional and we had to fight for every ball”.
The win kept Germany top of their group on goal difference ahead of Slovakia, who beat Luxembourg 2-0 on Monday.
Both Germany and Slovakia have three wins in four matches, with only the first-placed side guaranteed to qualify for next year’s World Cup. The Germans host Slovakia in Leipzig in November.
Despite the loss, Northern Ireland are only three points off the lead. Their final two fixtures are away against Slovakia and at home to Luxembourg, who have lost four from four.
Looking to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 1986, Northern Ireland came into the match with wind in their sails after a shock 2-0 win over the previously unbeaten Slovakia.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann also wanted to keep the momentum from Friday’s 4-0 win over Luxembourg, naming the same starting team two games in a row for the first time since Euro 2024.
The Germans survived an early scare when Daniel Ballard’s 14th-minute strike was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.
Just past the half-hour mark, Woltemade nodded in a David Raum corner to put Germany in front.
Only one of Woltemade’s 17 goals for Stuttgart last season was a header, but the 1.98-metre striker has clearly worked hard to make the most of his height advantage.
Since making his big-money move to Newcastle in the summer, Woltemade has scored three of his five goals for club and country with his head.
Karim Adeyemi had a golden chance to double Germany’s lead just after the break when put through on goal by Florian Wirtz, but the Borussia Dortmund forward hit his shot straight at the home goalkeeper.
Northern Ireland forced a corner in the hope of pinching a point in stoppage time, but the Germans held firm, Bayern Munich defender Jonathan Tah clearing the ball away.
Elsewhere, Sweden’s faint hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were all but extinguished as the 2018 quarter-finalists fell to a 1-0 defeat against Kosovo in Stockholm.
Fisnik Asllani fired a first-half effort that allowed the Kosovans to complete a remarkable double over their opponents and boost their own hopes of booking at least a play-off place.
Sweden — who featured £125million (€144 million) man Alexander Isak up front — remain rooted to the bottom of Group B on one point.
Leaders Switzerland dropped their first points of the campaign as they were held to a goalless draw by Slovenia in Ljubljana.
Group D leaders France dropped their first points of the campaign as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Iceland in Reykjavik.
Didier Deschamps took his side into the game knowing they could seal their ticket to the finals if they won and second-placed Ukraine failed to beat Azerbaijan in the other match.
But the night did not go to plan as Victor Palsson gave the hosts a 39th-minute lead, and despite two goals in five second-half minutes from Christopher Nkunku and Jean-Philippe Mateta putting France ahead, Kristian Hlynsson’s 70th-minute effort gave Iceland a point.
A win would not have been enough anyway for Deschamps’ men as Ukraine nudged to a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan in Krakow.
Two Kevin De Bruyne penalties proved enough for Belgium to jump to the top of Group J after a 4-2 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Joe Rodon fired the hosts into a seventh-minute lead, but De Bruyne levelled with his first spot-kick and Thomas Meunier rounded off a devastating counter-attack to give Belgium the lead with 24 minutes gone.
De Bruyne’s second penalty extended Belgium’s lead late in the second half, and although substitute Nathan Broadhead gave Wales hope, Leandro Trossard confirmed Belgium’s win late on.
The result means Wales are likely to have to fight it out with North Macedonia for a play-off place, and their hopes were boosted after their rivals were held to a 1-1 draw by Kazakhstan in Skopje.
European 2026 World Cup qualifying results on Monday:
Group A
Northern Ireland 0 Germany 1 (Woltemade 31)
Slovakia 2 (Obert 55, Schranz 72) Luxembourg 0
Group B
Slovenia 0 Switzerland 0
Sweden 0 Kosovo 1 (Asllani 32)
Group D
Iceland 2 (Palsson 39, Hlynsson 70) France 2 (Nkunku 63, Mateta 68)
Ukraine 2 (Hutsuliak 30, Malinovskyi 64) Azerbaijan 1 (Axundzadə 45+3-og)
Group J
North Macedonia 1 (Bardhi 74) Kazakhstan 1 (Karaman 54)
Wales 2 (Rodon 8, Broadhead 89) Belgium 4 (De Bruyne 18-pen, 75-pen, Meunier 24, Trossard 90)
– © AFP 2025
Additional reporting by Press Association
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