England secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first European country to do so. The team’s 5-0 victory over Latvia, with Harry Kane scoring twice in the first half, guaranteed their place in the tournament with two games left in the qualifying round. Under the leadership of coach Thomas Tuchel, England has maintained a clean sheet in all six qualifying matches.
Italy secured at least a playoff spot after defeating Israel 3-0, amidst heightened security due to ongoing tensions. The Azzurri are currently in second place in their group, three points behind Norway, with two matches remaining, including a crucial faceoff against each other in the final qualifiers.
Spain continued its winning streak in the qualifiers, defeating Bulgaria 4-0 and maintaining a perfect record in the campaign. Turkey also secured a victory, positioning themselves well for a playoff spot.
Coach Tuchel’s impact on the England team has been noticeable, with the team delivering impressive results under his guidance. Despite some controversial decisions, such as excluding key players from the squad, Tuchel’s tactics have been effective against their opponents.
South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Senegal also secured their spots in the World Cup. South Africa’s victory over Rwanda sealed their qualification, despite a points deduction in earlier games. Nigeria will have to go through a playoff despite a 4-0 win over Benin, while Ivory Coast and Senegal secured automatic qualification.
Spain, led by a strong performance from Mikel Merino with two goals, continued their dominance in the qualifiers. Turkey, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle to catch up with Spain in terms of goal difference.
Italy’s Mateo Retegui also scored a double in their match, which took place amidst tight security measures. Despite some minor disturbances, the match proceeded without major issues.