England have secured qualification to FIFA World Cup 26™ with two games to spare after victory over Latvia, as Portugal conceded a last-gasp equaliser against Hungary to keep their own dreams on hold for now as Cristiano Ronaldo set another record.
There were also victories for Spain, Türkiye, Italy, Republic of Ireland, and Serbia as the qualification picture became clearer ahead of next month’s final fixtures.
Group E
Spain goals: Merino (35 & 57), Chernev OG (79), Oyarzabal pen (90+2)
Pedri was at his palatial best as Spain took another step towards a North American adventure. The 22-year-old ran proceedings and was given a huge ovation from the Valladolid crowd when Luis de la Fuente handed him a rest midway through the second half.
By then the damage was done, a Mikel Merino double having left him on six goals from four games in the group. Atanas Chernev inadvertently put the ball into his own net and Mikel Oyarzabal added a late penalty to complete a routine victory.
Türkiye goals: Yildiz (14), Demiral (22, 52), Akgun (35)
Georgia goal: Kochorashvili (64)
A scintillating first-half performance earned Türkiye a commanding victory over Georgia in Izmit.
The hosts could not have asked for a better start, as Kenan Yildiz ran on to a long ball and chipped Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Kocaeli Stadium was rocking and Merih Demiral nearly blew the doors off when he thumped home a header from a corner kick.
Willy Sagnol’s men found themselves down by three when the rebound from an Ismail Yuksek shot fell perfectly for Yunus Akgun to turn into net. Demiral then notched his second of the night on a carbon copy of the first; the defender rising above his marker and heading in from a few yards out.
Georgia would get a consolation when Otar Kiteishvili’s clever backheel set up Giorgi Kochorashvili’s finish, but the night and the points belonged to Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye.
Group F
Portugal goals: Ronaldo (22 & 45+3)
Hungary goals: Szalai (8), Szoboszlai (90+1)
Cristiano Ronaldo became the outright leading marksman in World Cup qualifying history, but Dominik Szoboszlai struck late to deny Portugal qualification for a seventh successive global finals.
Attila Szalai silenced Lisbon by heading home the opener, but the 40-year-old tapped in crosses from full-backs Nelson Semedo and Nuno Mendes to swing Roberto Martinez’s charges ahead. The woodwork denied Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Dias enhancing the lead and Szalai equalising after the restart.
Hungary kept themselves five points behind Portugal, and in with a chance of the section’s automatic ticket, when Daniel Lukacs did majestically to set up Dominik Szoboszlai.
Republic of Ireland goal: Ferguson (70)
Republic of Ireland claimed their first win in World Cup qualifying after edging out 10-man Armenia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Visiting captain Tigran Barseghyan was given his marching orders in the 52nd minute of this contest before Evan Ferguson combined with Will Smallbone to score the only goal of a cagey encounter.
Group I
Estonia goal: Kait (12)
Moldova goal: Bodisteanu (64)
Moldova recorded their inaugural point of the qualifying campaign to ensure an encouraging start for new coach Lilian Popescu. It was their first draw in World Cup preliminaries since March 2021.
Estonia began brightly in Tallinn and took the lead when the ball fell into the path of Mattias Kait at the edge of the area and the midfielder found the corner with a powerful effort. Popescu shuffled his deck in the second half and the moves paid off when substitute Stefan Bodisteanu equalised with a long-range effort which deflected off the leg of Estonia defender Maksim Paskotsi. Moldova pushed for a late winner but Estonia held on.
Italy goals: Retegui (45+2 pen & 74), Mancini (90+4)
Mateo Retegui scored a brilliant brace as Italy solidified their hold on second place with an emphatic victory over Israel. It was a far cry from the chaotic 5-4 win for the Azzurri between these teams last month.
Israel had the first meaningful chance on goal when a powerful effort by Manor Solomon in the 28th minute was expertly tipped over by Italy stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma. After a sluggish opening, Italy were given their opportunity just before the break when Mateo Retegui was fouled by Matan Baltaxa in the Israel area. They took it as Retegui stepped up and confidently converted the spot-kick.
Retegui doubled Italy’s lead when he won the ball off Stav Toriel and curled the ball into the top corner of the net. The three points were sealed in injury time thanks to a header from Gianluca Mancini.
Group K
Andorra goal: Lopez (17)
Serbia goals: Garcia OG (19), Vlahovic (54), Mitrovic pen (77)
Serbia revived their fortunes following the resignation of coach Dragan Stojkovic with an impressive comeback victory over Andorra.
The hosts took a surprise lead in the 17th minute through an incredible long-distance effort from Guillaume Lopez, who spotted Serbia keeper Djordje Petrovic off his line and lobbed him from near the halfway line. But their joy was short-lived as Serbia levelled the scores just two minutes later when Andorra defender Christian Garcia headed a corner into his own net.
Serbia kept up the pressure and took the lead in the 54th minute when Dusan Vlahovic headed in a left-wing cross from Filip Kostic. Captain Aleksandar Mitrovic then squeezed in a penalty with 13 minutes remaining to give caretaker coach Zoran Mirkovic a winning start.
England goals: Gordon (26), Kane (44 & 45+3 pen), Tonisevs OG (58), Eze (86)
Harry Kane continued his prolific form to fire England to World Cup qualification with a 100-per-cent record and two games to spare.
The Three Lions skipper struck twice in quick succession before the interval in Riga, the first a powerful low strike from the edge of the box and the second from the penalty spot after he had been held back in the box.
Anthony Gordon had set Thomas Tuchel’s side on their way, and there were further goals after the interval as Maksims Tonisevs put through his own goal and Eberechi Eze struck, with Jordan Pickford largely a spectator and England still to concede in this qualifying campaign.
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.
