Germany continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup with an international friendly against Finland at MEWA Arena on Monday, 1 June 2026 at 01:45 WIB.
The hosts are set to compete in Group E of this summer’s World Cup, while the visitors will have to accept the disappointment of missing out on qualification for the tournament finals.
Germany began their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with less-than-convincing results, suffering two defeats and a draw in their opening three matches.
The poor run continued when they lost 2-0 to Slovakia in their first UEFA qualifying Group A match. However, Julian Nagelsmann’s side responded impressively in their subsequent fixtures.
Germany went on to win all five remaining qualifiers, securing their ticket to the 2026 World Cup as winners of Group A.
Nagelsmann’s men carried that positive momentum into March’s international break, defeating Switzerland 4-3 and Ghana 2-1 in friendlies. They now aim to maintain that form in their final two warm-up games before the tournament kicks off.
Germany will first face Finland before taking on the United States the following week. Nagelsmann will hope his team continue their winning run ahead of what will be a crucial tournament for the nation.
Since lifting the 2014 World Cup trophy, Germany have endured disappointment by failing to progress beyond the group stage in both the 2018 and 2022 editions. As a result, they are determined to significantly improve their performance in 2026.
While Germany are fine-tuning their squad for the World Cup, Finland once again fell short of their dream to participate in football’s grandest stage.
Finland have never qualified for a World Cup in their history, and their disappointing 2026 qualifying campaign means that wait continues.
After collecting seven points from their first four matches, Finland were level on points with Poland in the battle for a playoff spot. However, three defeats in their last four matches left them seven points adrift of second-placed Poland.
Finland briefly regained form with victories over Andorra and a 2-0 win against New Zealand but fell short in a penalty shootout loss to Cape Verde in their final match.
Now, Finland aim to return to winning ways and build momentum ahead of the UEFA Nations League campaign starting in September. They also seek their first victory over Germany since July 1972, having recorded nine defeats and five draws in their last 14 encounters with Die Mannschaft.
Germany’s International Friendly Record:
Germany’s Record (all competitions):
Finland’s International Friendly Record:
Finland’s Record (all competitions):
Germany will be without recently recalled goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is expected to start at the World Cup but is currently recovering from a calf injury. As a result, Oliver Baumann is likely to start between the posts.
Kai Havertz will also be unavailable due to his involvement in the Champions League final with Arsenal, meaning Nick Woltemade could lead the attack.
Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is set to make his 104th appearance for Finland, supported by a back three likely comprising Nikolai Alho, Ville Koski, and Samuli Miettinen.
At the other end, 31-year-old Joel Pohjanpalo is expected to spearhead Finland’s attack.
Germany: Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Goretzka, Stiller; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Woltemade
Finland: Hradecky; Alho, Koski, Miettinen; Skytta, Suhonen, Markhiyev, Walta, Lahteenmaki; Pohjanpalo, Antman
On paper, Germany are clearly the stronger side, and with added motivation to carry winning momentum into the World Cup, the hosts are expected to secure victory over Finland.
Predicted Score: Germany 2-0 Finland
Germany are currently in an excellent run of form. After a shaky start to their qualifying campaign, Die Mannschaft have bounced back with six consecutive wins across all competitions. Their confidence has been further boosted by victories over Switzerland and Ghana during the previous international break.
Germany’s greatest strength lies in their highly creative attacking line. The combination of Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané, and Nick Woltemade offers unpredictable attacking variations capable of breaking down defences through short link-up play or rapid wing attacks.
Finland do boast experienced players such as Lukas Hradecky and Joel Pohjanpalo, but the overall squad quality remains below Germany’s level. The head-to-head record also favours the hosts, with Finland failing to beat Germany since 1972.
Another key factor is motivation. Germany are eager to maintain their rhythm and momentum heading into the World Cup after back-to-back group-stage exits in the last two editions. Nagelsmann is expected to field most of his core players to strengthen chemistry and match sharpness.
Finland are likely to adopt a defensive approach and attempt to absorb early pressure. However, Germany’s pressing intensity and individual quality could force the Finnish defence to work hard throughout the match.
Given the gap in quality, squad depth, and current form, a convincing clean-sheet victory for Germany seems the most realistic outcome. A 3-0 scoreline appears fitting to reflect the hosts’ dominance without exaggeration in this friendly contest.
Predicted Score: Germany 3-0 Finland
(TribunLombok/ Irsan Yamananda/ Sportsmole)
