England, Portugal, and Norway Closing in on 2026 World Cup Spots
England and Portugal are on track to win their 2026 World Cup qualifying groups, with just two matches left to play. Several other European countries are also in contention for a spot in the tournament.
“We decided to invite the same group of players to make more stable what we built on...”
Thomas Tuchel's England team is riding high after a stunning 5-0 win over Serbia in Belgrade last month. They've been impressive in their qualifiers, not conceding a single goal in five matches. Their next challenge is against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday, where a victory would guarantee their spot in the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, provided Serbia doesn't beat Albania on Saturday.
Upcoming Match Details
- Latvia vs. England: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (kick-off time: 18:45 UTC)
- Venue: Riga, Latvia
England's Qualifier Record
Matches played: 5
Goals scored: 13 (avg. 2.6 goals per match)
Goals conceded: 0 (avg. 0 goals per match)
Winning streak: 4 matches
Latvia's Qualifier Record:
Matches played: 5
Goals scored: 4 (avg. 0.8 goals per match)
Goals conceded: 13 (avg. 2.6 goals per match)
Losing streak: 3 matches
England is currently leading the group standings with a seven-point advantage over Albania, with three matches remaining. Serbia trails Albania by just a point but has a game in hand, making the competition intense.
That connection! 🔥@BukayoSaka87 🤝 @EbereEze10 pic.twitter.com/gjoSJkLeuF
— England (@England) October 8, 2025
In a surprising move, coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted key players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish from his latest squad. This decision comes after several unexpected players shone in Serbia's recent matches, giving Tuchel a broader pool of talent to choose from.
Thomas Tuchel's message to players who didn't make the cut for the upcoming matches is “Keep on pushing.” This comes as England gears up for a friendly match against Wales on Thursday, followed by a crucial World Cup qualifier against Latvia. The England boss has been encouraging his players to make the most of their time together, emphasizing the importance of every second in their preparation for the World Cup. Tuchel's message to players like Adam Wharton, who was left out of the squad despite his impressive form for Crystal Palace, is a testament to his commitment to nurturing young talent.
“It is a decision for this camp, it was the best camp (in September) in terms of team spirit and teamwork, this was the best camp so far.
“We decided to invite the same group of players to make more stable what we built on.”
The upcoming match between Serbia and Albania on October 11, 2025, could be a crucial decider in determining which team secures the second spot in Group K and potentially heads into the play-offs.
Here's what's at stake:
Current Standings
- England: 15 points, 5 matches played, 5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, (leads the group)
- Albania: 8 points, 5 matches played, 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, (7-point deficit to England)
- Serbia: 7 points, 4 matches played, 2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, (1 point behind Albania)
With these standings in mind, England's upcoming matches will be crucial in determining the final outcome of the qualifiers.
Importance of the Match
If England wins against Latvia, Albania and Serbia will likely fight for the second spot, which could lead to a play-off spot.
Serbia needs to win this match and their other games to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive if England secures the top spot.
Play-off Implications
- The runners-up of each group, along with the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League section winners who didn't finish in the top two, will contest a 16-team play-off format in March 2026.
England will look to maintain their unbeaten record and solid defense, while Latvia will aim to cause an upset and keep their qualifying hopes alive.
Thomas Tuchel's England team is riding high after a stunning 5-0 win over Serbia in Belgrade last month. They've been impressive in their qualifiers, not conceding a single goal in five matches. Their next challenge is against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday, where a victory would guarantee their spot in the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, provided Serbia doesn't beat Albania on Saturday.
Portugal's Quest for Early Qualification
Portugal is poised to secure top spot in Group F of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, having scored eight goals in their first two matches in September. A pair of wins in their upcoming fixtures against the Republic of Ireland on October 11 and Hungary on October 14 would likely seal their qualification.
Roberto Martinez's side will qualify with victories against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday, unless Armenia beat both those same opponents.
Upcoming Matches
- Portugal vs. Republic of Ireland: October 11, 2025, at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, kick-off at 7:45 pm
- Portugal vs. Hungary: October 14, 2025, at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, kick-off at 7:45 pm
Group F Standings
Portugal: 6 points, 2 matches played
Armenia: 3 points, 2 matches played
Hungary: 1 point, 2 matches played
Republic of Ireland: 1 point, 2 matches played
Portugal's qualification scenario hinges on their performance against the Republic of Ireland and Hungary. Unless Armenia pulls off a remarkable comeback and defeats both teams, Portugal's path to qualification appears clear.
Erling Haaland Leads Norway's Charge to World Cup
Norway is on the cusp of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, boasting an impressive record of five consecutive wins and 24 goals scored in the process. Erling Haaland has been instrumental in their success, netting nine goals in the group stage, including a remarkable five goals in their 11-1 thrashing of Moldova.
“We lost our captain, and we have to live with that,” said coach Stale Solbakken.
“Of course you get angry and upset and those kinds of feelings, but then you quickly get into a mode where you have to think constructively.”
Haaland's performance has significantly contributed to Norway's strong start, and he'll look to continue his scoring streak in the upcoming matches. With a win over Israel on Saturday, Norway could seal their spot in the World Cup, contingent on Italy's performance against Estonia or Israel. However, they'll be without captain Martin Ødegaard due to a knee injury.
Upcoming Matches
- Norway vs. Israel: Saturday (hosting Israel)
- Italy vs. Norway: June 6, 2025 (in Oslo)
Norway is set to host Israel on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 5:00 PM WAT, in a crucial World Cup qualifying match. A win for Norway would see them qualify for the World Cup, ending their 28-year absence from the tournament, but only if Italy fails to secure points against Estonia or Moldova. However, the Norwegian team will be without their skipper, Martin Odegaard, who suffered a knee injury while playing for Arsenal last weekend.
Current Group I Standings
Norway: 15 points, 5 matches played (top of Group I)
Italy: 9 points, 4 matches played (pursuing Norway)
Israel: 9 points, 5 matches played (contending for a spot)
Italy and France's World Cup Qualification Hopes
Italy, the four-time world champions, are eager to avoid the playoffs after losing at that stage in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualifiers to Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively. They're currently second in Group I, trailing Norway by six points but with a game in hand. Upcoming matches against Estonia and Israel are crucial for Italy's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Italy’s Qualification Challenges
Current Standing: Second in Group I with 9 points
Games to Play: Matches against Estonia and Israel
Goal Difference: Italy has conceded 7 goals in 4 qualifiers, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities
2026 World Cup Qualification Updates
Meanwhile, France, the 2018 World Cup winners, could secure qualification with wins against Azerbaijan and Iceland if Iceland draws with Ukraine. England and Portugal are also poised to top their respective groups with two games remaining.
Spain's Qualification Chances
European champions Spain are on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. To secure their spot, they need to win both of their upcoming matches against Georgia and Bulgaria. However, other results in Group E must also go in their favor. Spain currently tops Group E with 6 points, having won both of their matches so far, including a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria.
Group E Standings
Spain: 6 points, 2 matches played
Georgia: 3 points, 2 matches played
Turkey: 3 points, 2 matches played
Bulgaria: 0 points, 2 matches played
Upcoming Matches
- Spain vs. Georgia: October 12, 2025
- Spain vs. Bulgaria: October 14, 2025
Other Contenders
Croatia and Switzerland could also seal their qualification in the coming week. The group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup finals, while the runner-up will advance to the second round (play-offs).
Germany's World Cup qualifying campaign has gotten off to a rocky start, with the team suffering a shocking defeat to Slovakia in their opening match.
Now, they'll need to regroup quickly, as Julian Nagelsmann's side face Luxembourg on Friday before heading to Windsor Park to take on Northern Ireland three days later.
Germany's upcoming fixtures:
Upcoming Matches
- Germany vs. Luxembourg: Friday
- Northern Ireland vs. Germany: Monday
Current Group A Standings
Germany: 1st place (though they have the same number of points as Switzerland, their form is slightly better with a win and a draw)
Switzerland: 2nd place
Hungary: 3rd place
Scotland: 4th place
Germany's next matches will be crucial in determining their chances of qualifying for the World Cup. With only the top team in each group securing a direct spot, Germany can't afford any more slip-ups.
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