A 4-0 win over North Macedonia at the National Stadium in Skopje, combined with Armenia’s failure to beat Romania in their match, ensured Germany became the first team to join hosts Qatar at the FIFA World Cup 2022™. A total of 32 countries will take part in the tournament, with another 30 berths still up for grabs. With two matchdays still to go, Hansi Flick’s team are now out of reach at the top of UEFA Group J on 21 points, making them the first of 13 European teams to stamp their World Cup ticket.

The four-time World Cup winners now have games against Liechtenstein (11 November) and Armenia (14 November) to focus on their preparations for the 22nd World Cup, which will get under way in 405 days’ time on 21 November 2022.

"We’re really pleased to have come through qualifying. And now obviously we want to follow that up by winning the World Cup next year. For Germany, the main aim is always to lift the trophy." Kai Havertz, scorer of the opening goal

"As I think I’ve said a number of times before, when a coach likes you and trusts you, that really helps you as a player. I’m the kind of guy who needs these votes of confidence." Timo Werner, scorer of two goals

"We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to continue to grow as a team but we’re on the right track to get back to the top of the tree in world football. And in Hansi Flick, we’ve got the right coach to be able to do just that." Leon Goretzka, midfielder

"The team’s approach today deserves praise as well – they did what we said we had to, and that was not to let up!" Hansi Flick, Germany coach

"Germany have a lot of young players of real quality, which gives me a lot of hope. With the sheer depth of talent, Germany have every right to expect to be there at the business end when it comes to winning in Qatar next year." Lothar Matthaus, Germany’s most-capped player of all time

0 – Germany have never lost an away World Cup qualifier.

1 – Germany have only lost one of their last 40 World Cup qualifiers, that defeat coming against North Macedonia (2-1) in March 2021. They have also won 22 of their last 23 qualifiers. 3 – In 101 matches, they have suffered a mere three defeats, all of them at home. In 1985, they went down 1-0 to Portugal, then there was the 5-1 loss to England in 2001 and the 2-1 defeat to North Macedonia in March this year. 3.1 – Germany have scored 313 goals in 101 matches – an average of over three per game. 8 – Serge Gnabry has found the back of the net eight times in nine World Cup qualifiers for Germany.

12 – Germany recorded their biggest World Cup qualifying win in Essen in May 1969 with a 12-0 rout of Cyprus. 13 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has scored the most goals for Germany in World Cup qualifying with 13 in 14 matches. Miroslav Klose – the country’s all-time leading scorer – also got 13 goals, but it took him 19 qualifiers to hit that mark. Thomas Muller is third with 10 goals in qualifying. 14 – Germany have had to qualify for the World Cup 14 times to date, and this latest campaign means that they have maintained their perfect record of never failing to make it through. 39 – Germany have scored in each of their last 39 World Cup qualifiers. The last time that they failed to find the net was in a 0-0 draw at home to Finland on 10 June 2001.