The Germany national football team is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they take on Finland in an international friendly at the MEWA Arena on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Germany comes into this match having secured their spot in the World Cup finals for the 19th time, following a decisive 6-0 victory over Slovakia that concluded their qualifying rounds. This performance also helped to address the team’s earlier unexpected defeat during the qualification process. thrashing Slovakia 6-0 to conclude their qualifying campaign.
Under the management of Julian Nagelsmann, Germany has slowly regained their form after a rocky start to the qualifiers. The four-time world champions also achieved wins against Switzerland and Ghana during the March international window and will aim to build on this momentum as they head into the summer tournament.
In addition to Finland, Germany will also meet the United States in another preparatory match next week, as Nagelsmann finalizes his plans for a World Cup that carries significant expectations following disappointing early exits in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Finland has announced the friendly against Germany through their X account but once again fell short of qualifying for their first FIFA World Cup. After beginning their qualifying campaign with seven points in four matches, their playoff hopes faded after suffering three losses in their last four games.
The team bounced back with wins over Andorra and New Zealand but faced a setback with a penalty shootout loss against Cape Verde, followed by a heavy 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands. In that match, Memphis Depay surpassed Wesley Sneijder as the Netherlands’ all-time assist leader.
Finland now aims to gain momentum ahead of their UEFA Nations League campaign, though they face a significant historical challenge, as they have not managed to beat Germany since 1972.
Team News
Germany will be without seasoned goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is recovering from a calf injury but was anticipated to participate in the World Cup. Oliver Baumann is likely to take over the goalkeeping duties.
Additionally, Kai Havertz will not be participating due to his commitment to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final, paving the way for Nick Woltemade to potentially lead the attack.
For Finland, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is anticipated to earn his 104th international cap, while defenders Nikolai Alho, Ville Koski, and Samuli Miettinen are likely to feature in the back line.
Striker Joel Pohjanpalo is expected to be the key player in Finland’s offensive setup.
Possible Lineups
Germany possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Goretzka, Stiller; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Woltemade
Finland possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Alho, Koski, Miettinen; Skytta, Suhonen, Markhiyev, Walta, Lahteenmaki; Pohjanpalo, Antman
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport Football Plus |
| Live Stream | DStv Stream app |
| Kick-off Time | 19:45 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Germany 3-0 Finland
Germany’s depth and attacking prowess are expected to be key factors as they continue their journey to build confidence before the World Cup. While Finland may maintain a strong defensive formation, the hosts are likely to control possession and create more scoring opportunities.
