In the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group A, Northern Ireland defeated Luxembourg 3-1 away, while Germany lost 2-0 away to Slovakia.
As a result, Northern Ireland and Slovakia both earned 3 points with the same goal difference, and Northern Ireland currently ranks first in the group by virtue of the advantage in the number of goals.
Germany, which lost to Slovakia in official matches for the first time in its history, ranks at the bottom of the group because it had fewer goals than Luxembourg.
