⏳ England, Nigeria nightmare, CR7 record: who reaches World Cup 🏆

As Italy prepares for the crucial showdown against Israel, decisive for qualification to the World Cup playoffs, today could already deliver major verdicts around the world.

Today is decisive for many countries. Matches are being played in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the outcomes are anything but predictable.

By tonight, in fact, five teams could secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. However, football has accustomed us to surprises and turnarounds, and it’s not out of the question that the number of qualified teams could even rise to seven.

Let’s take a closer look at the situations across the three continents and the national teams dreaming of punching their ticket to America.

🌏 ASIA

In Asia, it will be a day of high tension and spectacle, with two spots for the 2026 World Cup to be awarded at the end of head-to-head clashes. The spotlight is on United Arab Emirates–Qatar and Saudi Arabia–Iraq.

The UAE, buoyed by their win over Oman, can count on two results out of three to celebrate. The situation is more complicated for Qatar, which has only one goal: to win.

The same scenario applies to Iraq, which must take all three points to return to the World Cup after forty years away. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, thanks to goal difference, can settle for a draw to book their ticket to America.

🇪🇺 EUROPE

England is ready to write the first major chapter of these qualifiers: with 5 wins in 5 matches, Thomas Tuchel’s team is on the brink of the finish line.

Another three points against Latvia tonight would be enough to mathematically secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, making them the first European national team to qualify.

But attention also remains high on Portugal, which could experience a historic evening. If they beat Hungary and Armenia draw or lose to Ireland, the Lusitanians would hit their target and gift Cristiano Ronaldo his sixth World Cup.

🌍 AFRICA

In Africa, an extremely tense day is on the cards. It’s the final round, the groups are closing, and that means there’s no escaping the verdicts. Three national teams will punch their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, with Senegal and Ivory Coast ready to finish the job against Mauritania and Kenya.

Both occupy first place in their respective groups, but surprises are never in short supply in football.

The spotlight is also on Nigeria’s group. The Super Eagles of Osimhen and Lookman will face group leaders Benin in a head-to-head that could mean goodbye to the World Cup.

South Africa, meanwhile, hosts a Rwanda side already out of contention. To qualify, the Bafana Bafana must win and hope that Nigeria beats Benin. Or win by two goals if the Nigerians draw. In short, everything is still possible.

🏆 TEAMS ALREADY QUALIFIED

Cape Verde’s historic first qualification for a World Cup brings the number of national teams that have already secured a spot at the 2026 World Cup to 22.

📸 PHILL MAGAKOE - AFP or licensors