England have been relegated from the top tier of the Nations League after failing to win any of their five opening matches.
A 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday will ensure that irrespective of their result against Germany on Monday, the Three Lions will finish bottom of Group A3.
England have now gone five matches without a win for the first time since 2014, and have gone five competitive matches without winning for the first time since 1992.
But Southgate is convinced the quality of the opposition England have faced so far will come in handy when it matters most at the Mundiale.
"Without a doubt. We're playing and have been playing some top-level sides and we will be better for that," he said.
"And the younger players, in particular, that have been in these games will have learned a lot from them.
"In the past we've had runs of friendlies or whatever the matches are and then we've gone into tournaments and that's the first time we've hit high-level opposition and it's hit us in the face quite often.
"Now we know the level, now we know what we've got to improve and we'll be better placed for that by having had the quality of matches that we've had."
