Germany have qualified for the 2026 World Cup by routing Slovakia 6-0 in Leipzig.

Julian Nagelsmann's side needed to avoid a shock defeat at Red Bull Arena to guarantee top spot in Group A and their place at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They were beaten in the reverse fixture in Bratislava two months ago, but a repeat never looked in the offing once Newcastle frontman Nick Woltemade put Germany ahead in the 18th minute.

Serge Gnabry struck just before the half-hour and Leroy Sané bagged a brace before halftime, while substitutes Ridle Baku and Assan Ouédraogo scored after the interval to further demoralise Slovakia.

The teams were deadlocked on 12 points -- with Slovakia losing at Northern Ireland last month -- but Francesco Calzona's visitors handed Germany just a fourth World Cup qualifying defeat in their history.

Die Mannschaft rebounded with four straight wins and had a better goal difference than their opponents, but settling for a point seemed the farthest thing from their minds as they got on the front foot early on.

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Nico Schlotterbeck and Florian Wirtz missed the target early on before Joshua Kimmich crossed for an unmarked Woltemade to head home from six yards for his fourth goal for Germany in three games.

Slovakia might have equalised as Dávid Duris was denied from close range by Oliver Baumann and from the resulting corner, the Slovakia forward could not keep his effort down from another promising position.

From then on it was a Germany procession, starting in the 29th minute when Leon Goretzka's defence-splitting pass made its way to Bayern Munich team-mate Gnabry to roll low past Martin Dúbravka.

Wirtz and Sane then combined in the 36th and 41st minutes to all-but guarantee a home victory. Both goals came from Wirtz balls over the top, with Sane taking a touch and then rifling low into the net for his first goal then dispatching high beyond Dubravka with a first-time effort for his second.

Baku bagged Germany's fifth in the 64th minute after being teed up by Gnabry, while Dubravka did well to stop Goretzka from scoring shortly afterwards.

However, he was powerless to prevent teenage debutant Ouedraogo, only on the field for less than a minute after replacing Wirtz, from putting the finishing touch to a fine move.

Ouedraogo finding the net after 79 minutes meant he became the youngest Germany player to score on his debut in 71 years.

While Germany can now look forward to heading to North America next year, Slovakia will enter the playoffs.