Kevin De Bruyne and Nick Woltemade were the heroes as Belgium and Germany won in the United Kingdom to hike their FIFA World Cup 26™ qualification hopes. Slovakia and Ukraine also emerged triumphant, but Sweden fell at home to Kosovo and France drew in Iceland.
Group A
Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
Germany goal: Woltemade (31)
Germany remain top of Group A after recording a hard-fought win over Northern Ireland in Belfast. Nick Woltemade provided the game’s decisive moment, turning the ball in from David Raum’s corner midway through the first half.
The Germans came close to extending their lead when Florian Wirtz sent Karim Adeyemi racing clear on goal, but the Borussia Dortmund attacker fired fractions wide. Northern Ireland steadily gained a foothold in the game and threatened when Ethan Galbraith’s daisy-cutter went inches past the post. Substitute Callum Marshall then forced a fine save from Oliver Baumann, but the Irish could not break through as Germany took an important step towards qualification.
Slovakia 2-0 Luxembourg
Slovakia goal: Obert (55), Schranz (72)
Slovakia dug deep to see off a gallant Luxembourg effort in Trnava. Jeff Strasser’s side troubled their hosts in the first half, with Martin Dubravka making a superb save from Aiman Dardari and Milan Skriniar making a last-ditch intervention to stop Edvin Muratovic going through. Francesco Calzona’s charges found their rhythm after the restart, however, with Adam Obert’s deflected strike from Ondrej Duda’s corner breaking the deadlock and Ivan Schranz’s finish from a tight angle sealing the deal.
Group B
Slovenia 0-0 Switzerland
Switzerland’s hopes of returning to the World Cup were put on hold after being denied by a spirited Slovenia side. There was little to separate the teams throughout the contest as Slovenia struggled to break down a solid Swiss defence. Benjamin Sesko threatened first by hitting the side-netting in the 71st minute. Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji almost bundled the ball into his own net moments later, but his goalkeeper Gregor Kobel reacted quickly to avert the danger.
Sweden 0-1 Kosovo
Kosovo goal: Asllani (32)
Kosovo kept up the pressure on leaders Switzerland as Sweden’s qualifying woes continued. Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men had the better of the opening half, but Kosovo took a deserved lead when a Vedat Muriqi shot was miscued by Veldin Hodza and the ball fell invitingly into the path of Fisnik Asllani, who powered home.
As the first half came to a conclusion, Leon Avdullahu rattled the post for the visitors after Viktor Johansson pulled off a brilliant one-handed save. Tomasson rang the changes after the break but to no avail, with Alexander Isak spurning three dangerous opportunities to leave Sweden bottom.
Group D
Iceland 2-2 France
Iceland goals: Palsson (39), Hlynsson (70)
France goals: Nkunku (63), Mateta (68)
Iceland hiked their qualification hopes by ending France’s 100-per-cent record in Reykjavik. Victor Palsson poked home the opener from a set-piece against the run of play. On the stroke of half-time, Elias Rafn Olafsson repelled Michael Olise’s header, with Mikael Egill Ellertsson doing wonderfully to block Jean-Philippe Mateta’s follow-up. Didier Deschamps’ side then flew in front, Christopher Nkunku arrowing a beauty into the bottom corner before Mateta tapped Maghnes Akliouche’s cross in at the back post. Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s men had the final say, however, with Kristian Hlynsson finishing assuredly when Albert Gudmundsson slid him through on goal.
Ukraine 2-1 Azerbaijan
Ukraine goal: Hutsuliak (30), Malinovskiy (64)
Azerbaijan goal: Mykolenko own goal (45+3)
Ukraine shook off a stiff challenge to take down Azerbaijan in Wroclaw. There was no shortage of chances in the early stages, the highlight being a right-footed rocket from Ukraine defender Yukhym Konoplia that rattled the crossbar. The home side started to turn the screws and an inch-perfect free-kick from Ruslan Malinovskiy’s allowed Oleksii Hutsuliak to smack in a header.
Just when it looked like Ukraine were in full control, they paid the price for switching off, as a deep cross intended for Nariman Akhundzade was turned into net by defender Vitaliy Mykolenko. Ukraine regrouped in the second stanza and talisman Malinovskiy delivered the decisive strike, with Hutsuliak setting him up for a volley in front of net.
Group J
North Macedonia 1-1 Kazakhstan
North Macedonia goals: Bardhi (74)
Kazakhstan goals: Karaman (54)
Kazakhstan delivered the latest surprise in the group by holding leaders North Macedonia to a draw in Skopje. Fresh off their goalless stalemate in Belgium, North Macedonia suffered through an uneasy opening half, with Milan Ristovski producing the only good chances.
Kazakhstan were unfazed, and on his first international start, Dinmukhamed Karaman gave the visitors a shock lead. North Macedonia were desperate to respond and captain Enis Bardhi answered the call, sending a free-kick screaming into the top-left corner. The home side pushed for a winner, but Kazakhstan held on.
Wales 2-4 Belgium
Wales goal: Rodon (8), Broadhead (89)
Belgium goals: De Bruyne pens (18 & 76), Meunier (24), Trossard (90)
Belgium came from behind to beat Wales in Cardiff and go top of Group J. Joe Rodon sent the home fans wild when he headed Wales in front. Belgium quickly pulled level, with Kevin de Bruyne making no mistake from the penalty spot after Ethan Ampadu was penalised for a handball.
The Red Devils forged ahead when Thomas Meunier sent a stunning finish into the roof of the net following a Jeremy Doku cut-back. Wales pressed for an equaliser in the second half but conceded another penalty, this time for a handball by Jordan James. De Bruyne slotted in another precision spot-kick to make it 3-1.
Nathan Broadhead’s fine finish reignited Wales’ hopes, but Leandro Trossard put the result beyond doubt with a goal deep into stoppage time.
How qualifying works
The first round will follow a familiar format, with 12 groups of four or five teams, and the section winners securing World Cup slots. The continent’s four remaining berths will then be settled in a 16-team UEFA play-off competition involving the 12 group runners-up and four best-ranked UEFA Nations League section winners.
