Defeat in Slovakia Ends Luxembourg’s 2026 World Cup Hopes

On Monday 13 October 2025, Luxembourg’s national men’s football team fell to a fourth defeat in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, away to Slovakia at the Štadión Antona Malatinského in Trnava.

Luxembourg created enough to win the reverse fixture at home five weeks ago, with more than five clear chances denied by goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka and the woodwork, yet Francesco Calzona’s Slovakia still edged a 1-0 victory.

After the 0-4 defeat away to Germany on Friday 10 October 2025, the Red Lions sought a response on the road as they chased their first points in Group A. 

Both sides traded attacks from the outset and, in the 12th minute, Aiman Dardari burst clear but shot wide of the far post. Seven minutes later he was denied by Dúbravka, and moments after that Daniel Sinani’s effort, deflected off a defender, flew over the crossbar.

Slovakia replied in the 27th minute when Lukáš Haraslín drove a dangerous ball across the face of goal from the right, Dávid Ďuriš just unable to connect at the back post. The first half ended goalless.

Early in the second half, Luxembourg nearly paid for a misplaced pass out from Anthony Moris: Ondrej Duda collected, cut inside and struck the post. 

In the 55th minute, Slovakia did take the lead from a rehearsed corner routine, Duda drilling low from the right and Adam Obert turning the delivery goalwards, the ball deflecting in for 1-0.

Jeff Strasser introduced Alessio Curci and Olivier Thill for Edvin Muratovic and Mathias Olesen. Thill soon tested Dúbravka with a 25-metre curler that the goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt on 64 minutes.

Slovakia doubled their advantage in the 71st minute. Haraslín received the ball near the left edge of the Luxembourg box and flashed a low cross to the far post, where substitute Ivan Schranz, on the pitch for less than a minute, finished into the near corner for 2-0. 

Róbert Boženík could have added a third late on, but Moris held his point-blank header.

The match finished 2-0 to Slovakia, a fourth defeat leaving Luxembourg without points and ending any mathematical hope of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

In the day’s other game, Germany won 1-0 away to Northern Ireland through Nick Woltemade and top Group A alongside Slovakia on nine points. 

Luxembourg’s next qualifier is at home against Germany on Friday 14 November 2025 at 20:45 at the Stade de Luxembourg.

Starting lineups:

Slovakia: Martin Dúbravka (GK); Adam Obert; Norbert Gyömbér; Tomas Rigo; Ondrej Duda; Milan Škriniar (C); David Strelec; Dávid Hancko; Dávid Ďuriš; Matúš Bero; Lukáš Haraslín .

Luxembourg: Anthony Moris (GK); Seid Korac; Enes Mahmutovic; Laurent Jans (C); Mathias Olesen; Leandro Barreiro; Christopher Martins; Florian Bohnert; Danel Sinani; Edvin Muratovic; Aiman Dardari.