Spain, Switzerland and Austria took major steps towards qualification as Belgium missed a shot at sealing their place with a game to spare as Europe’s FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers edge towards a conclusion.
Elsewhere, Türkiye secured at least a play-off spot, as did Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, while Wales boosted their chances of doing likewise. There was frustration for Denmark and Scotland, meanwhile, as dropped points from each set up a dramatic final day in Group C.
Group B
Kosovo goals: Asllani (6), Karnicnik OG (64)
Kosovo assured themselves of at least a play-off place following victory in Ljubljana. Star man Fisnik Asllani got the ball rolling as he plucked a pass out of the sky, feinted one way and then another, before slotting into the bottom corner.
Slovenia’s task was made even more difficult when half-time substitute Petar Stojanovic picked up two yellow cards within eight minutes of entering the field. The game was made safe in bizarre fashion, as the unfortunate Zan Karnicnik volleyed a back-pass into his own net from outside the area.
The Dardanët will now host table-topping Switzerland in the final match, and while they sit three points behind the Nati, they have a far inferior goal difference.
Switzerland goals: Embolo (12), Xhaka pen (60), Ndoye (75), Manzambi (90+4)
Sweden goal: Nygren (33)
Switzerland moved to the cusp of qualification with an emphatic win over Sweden in Geneva. The Swiss opened the scoring through Breel Embolo, who swept home a Dan Ndoye cross for his 22nd international goal.
Graham Potter, who was taking charge of his first match as Sweden boss, then saw his side hit back through a low Benjamin Nygren drive.
However, captain Granit Xhaka restored the host’s lead on the hour from the penalty spot, with Ndoye making the game safe soon after with a neat run and shot. Johan Manzambi added further gloss to the scoreline in injury time. Switzerland remain top of the group, and will confirm their spot at a 13th World Cup so long as they avoid a heavy defeat to Kosovo on Tuesday.
Group C
Denmark goals: Damsgaard (11), Isaksen (79)
Belarus goals: Gromyko (62), Demchenko (65)
Denmark moved a point clear at the top of Group C but missed out on almost-certain qualification as Belarus snatched an unlikely draw. Everything looked to be running to script for the Danes – who had beaten the Belarussians 6-0 just last month – when Mikkel Damsgaard crashed in a superb 20-yard shot that flashed just inside the left-hand post.
The home side failed to make their dominance pay, however, and saw their advantage evaporate just after the hour-mark when Valeri Gromyko wriggled through a couple of challenges and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner. Minutes later, Gromyko added an outstanding assist to his fine goal with a superb low cross that Nikita Demchenko finished expertly.
Gustav Isaksen lashed in a 79th-minute equaliser but Denmark couldn’t find a winner, and will now need to take something in Scotland on Tuesday to secure top spot.
Greece goals: Bakasetas (7), Karetsas (57), Tzolis (63)
Scotland goals: Gannon-Doak (65), Christie (70)
Already-eliminated Greece dealt a heavy blow to Scotland’s qualifying hopes on a thrilling and incident-packed night in Piraeus. The Greeks totally dominated the first half and took a deserved early lead when Tasos Bakasetas smashed low into the net after Craig Gordon, the visitors’ 42-year-old keeper, had saved superbly from Vangelis Pavlidis.
There were chances aplenty at both ends before the home side looked to have sealed victory with two goals in six minutes from Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis. The Scots, however, roared back through Ben Gannon-Doak’s first international goal and a powerful Ryan Christie header – both teed up by excellent crosses from the left.
Greece were reduced to ten men with six minutes remaining when Basektas received a second yellow but held out for a win that would have been fatal to the Scots’ hopes had it not been for a shock result in Copenhagen.
Group E
Spain goals: Oyarzabal (11 pen, 63), Zubimendi (22), Torres (35)
Spain stand on the cusp of World Cup qualification after Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and laid on another as the European champions powered past Georgia in Tbilisi.
La Roja enjoyed a superb start, with a Ferran Torres cross striking the arm of a Georgia defender and Oyarzabal calmly converting the penalty. Martin Zubimendi doubled the advantage with an excellent finish, then Torres got a goal of his own by stabbing home a cross from Oyarzabal.
It was a similar story after the restart and an Oyarzabal header made it four, rounding out a perfect night for the Spanish.
Türkiye goals: Calhanoglu pen (18), Chernev OG (83)
A goal in each half secured Türkiye at least a play-off place as they beat Bulgaria.
On the day when he moved joint-third for caps with 102, Hakan Calhanoglu also joined Tuncay in that position on the scoring podium by stroking home a first-half penalty for his 22nd international strike.
Bulgaria hit the post in the second half and would rue that miss when Atanas Chernev diverted a Calhanoglu free-kick into his own net. Vincenzo Montella’s side remain three points behind Spain, who they play in their final match, but have a lag a considerable distance behind on goal difference.
Group H
Austria goals: Arnautovic (18 pen, 55)
Marko Arnautovic tallied a pair of goals as Austria edged closer to qualification with a victory over Cyprus in Kolossi.
The Austrians made the breakthrough from the penalty spot, as Christoph Baumgartner was brought down in area and their record scorer converted.
The visitors then doubled the lead when defender Kevin Danso halted a Cyprus counter and the deflection fell perfectly for Arnautovic, who took a touch and fired home to secure the points.
Bosnia-Herzegovina goals: Dzeko (49), Bajraktarevic (80), Tabakovic (90+3)
Romania goal: Birligea (17)
Bosnia and Herzegovina rallied from a half-time deficit to down Romania in Zenica, setting up a final matchday showdown with leaders Austria. Romania struck first with Valentin Mihaila dashing down the left flank and crossing for Daniel Birligea, who beat goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
The Bosnians turned to legendary striker Edin Dzeko and the ageless ace delivered to bring his side level. There was more good news for the hosts when Romania’s Denis Mihai Dragus was sent off for a high boot. That numerical advantage paid off, and the points were captured thanks to Esmir Bajraktarevic’s stunning left-footed strike and a last-minute Haris Tabakovic goal.
Group J
Kazakhstan goal: Satpaev (9)
Belgium goal: Vanaken (48)
Belgium missed out on the chance to qualify with a game to spare as they were held by battling ten-man Kazakhstan in Astana.
Rudi Garcia’s side had inflicted a 6-0 drubbing on the Kazakhs when the teams met two months ago but this was a very different kind of match, with the tone set inside nine minutes. That was when rising star Dastan Satpaev, still just 17, scored his first international goal, driving forward from just inside the Belgian half before drilling a left-foot shot in at Matz Sels’s near post.
Belgium dominated possession but struggled to find a breakthrough until two minutes into the second half, when Hans Vanaken rose majestically to power home an inviting right-foot cross from Timothy Castagne. Kazakhstan’s cause was dealt a further blow when Islam Chesnokov was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Jeremy Doku, but they held on for a historic draw – and sent Belgium home frustrated.
Wales goal: James (61)
Wales kept their qualification hopes alive with a tense and hard-fought victory in Vaduz.
Nathan Broadhead thought he’d fired Craig Bellamy’s side in front midway through the first half but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
Wales remained patient though, and after Dan James had hit the post from close range, Jordan James slotted home Nico Williams’ low cross to open his international account and calm the visitors’ nerves.
The Welsh now head into a crucial home match against North Macedonia, who currently lead them on goal difference. The two sides could still qualify automatically but are two points adrift of leaders Belgium, who take on Liechtenstein.
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.
