Cologne stadium not sold out for Germany game after Slovakia shock

The second match of Germany’s World Cup qualification campaign on Sunday in Cologne against Northern Ireland has not yet sold out, reported dpa.

Julian Nagelsmaan’s side were stunned 2-0 in Slovakia in their group opener on Thursday and the Cologne public are showing their reaction with their feet.

As of midday (1000 GMT) Saturday, the German Football Federation (DFB) reported that 40,000 tickets had been sold but 5,000 are still available.

Before the match in Cologne, former World Cup winner Mats Hummels will be honoured by the DFB for his international career. After the game, Florian Wirtz will be recognized for winning the German journalists’ vote for Footballer of the Year.

Following the Northern Ireland clash, the German men’s national team will play two more home games this year – on October 10 in Sinsheim against Luxembourg and on November 17 in Leipzig against Slovakia.

The remaining away fixtures in the four-team World Cup qualification campaign will take place on October 13 in Belfast against Northern Ireland and on November 14 in Luxembourg.

If Germany qualify directly for June’s 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada as group winners, two friendly matches have already been scheduled – on March 30 in Stuttgart against Ivory Coast and on May 31 in Mainz against Finland.

Meanwhile, Serge Gnabry is fit for Germany’s second World Cup qualifying match against Northern Ireland on Sunday, reported dpa.

The Bayern Munich winger injured his left arm during the 2-0 defeat in Slovakia on Thursday but will be available in Cologne, the German Football Federation said on Saturday.

Gnabry sustained the injury in the first half of the match in Bratislava. In the second period, he wore an arm brace before being substituted in the 66th minute for Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi.

Two years ago, Gnabry suffered a fracture to his left forearm so precautions are being taken.

Niclas Füllkrug has been sidelined with a calf issue so under-pressure coach Julian Nagelsmann has already called up Dortmund’s Maximilian Beier as a replacement.

The lacklustre loss in Slovakia led to a media frenzy criticizing Nagelsmann and his side, who are playing in a four-team qualification group.

Even if Germany do not finish in the top two, they are guaranteed a World Cup play-off spot due to reaching the Nations League Final Four in June.