Get ready for some thrilling football action as we dive into the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup! A battle for glory and a chance to represent their nations on the biggest stage.
While Spain and Switzerland didn't quite make it to the FIFA World Cup, they've taken a significant step forward with impressive wins in the European Qualifiers. However, it's not all good news, as Belgium and Denmark faced disappointment. UEFA.com brings you the latest updates and highlights from Saturday's matches.
Qualifying Round-Up:
Group B:
- Switzerland 4-1 Sweden: A dominant display by Switzerland, who secured a crucial win with goals from Granit Xhaka, Dan Ndoye, and Johan Manzambi. Breel Embolo opened the scoring, but Sweden fought back through Benjamin Nygren. Xhaka's penalty and Ndoye's strike gave Switzerland the edge, and Manzambi's late goal sealed the deal.
- Slovenia 0-2 Kosovo: Kosovo picked up a vital win with goals from their attackers.
Group C:
- Greece 3-2 Scotland: A tight contest saw Greece edge out Scotland. Scotland will now face Denmark for a finals spot.
- Denmark 2-2 Belarus: An unexpected draw for Denmark, with Belarus leading for a while. This result keeps the group wide open.
Group E:
- Türkiye 2-0 Bulgaria: Türkiye maintained their winning streak.
- Georgia 0-4 Spain: Spain dominated with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres, keeping their perfect record in Group E.
Group H:
- Cyprus 0-2 Austria: Austria continued their strong run with a win over Cyprus, thanks to Marko Arnautović's brace.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 Romania: Bosnia fought back to secure a crucial victory.
Group J:
- Kazakhstan 1-1 Belgium: A hard-fought draw for Belgium, with Hans Vanaken's header keeping their unbeaten run alive. Kazakhstan's young talent, Dastan Satpayev, scored a memorable goal.
- Liechtenstein 0-1 Wales: Wales grabbed a crucial win with Jordan James' goal, setting up a dramatic final day against North Macedonia.
The Best of the Rest:
- Austria's Marko Arnautović scored twice in Cyprus, but Bosnia's comeback spoiled their celebration.
- Belarus's shock draw with Denmark kept Scotland's hopes alive.
- Wales' win over Liechtenstein sets up an exciting finale in Group J.
Sunday's Fixtures:
- Ukraine vs Iceland (18:00)
- Azerbaijan vs France (18:00)
- Hungary vs Republic of Ireland (15:00)
- Portugal vs Armenia (15:00)
- Italy vs Norway
- Israel vs Moldova
- Serbia vs Latvia (18:00)
- Albania vs England (18:00)
As the qualifiers progress, the tension rises. Who will secure their place in the 2026 World Cup? And will there be any surprising upsets along the way? Join the discussion and share your predictions! The road to Qatar is paved with excitement!
