England and Portugal head into the latest round of European qualifiers with the chance to secure their places at the 2026 World Cup, while Norway’s free-scoring run has put them on the brink, and Italy face an anxious few days.
Back on the grass 🏡 pic.twitter.com/wHjoCer5bh
— England (@England) October 7, 2025
Thomas Tuchel’s England have set the tone with five clean sheets in as many qualifiers, capped by a commanding 5-0 win away to Serbia in September. England are not back in Group K action until Tuesday, when victory over Latvia in Riga would confirm qualification if Serbia fail to beat Albania on Saturday. England holds a seven-point advantage over Albania with three matches remaining, with Serbia a further point behind but with a game in hand. Several players who were outside the usual first-choice pool impressed in Belgrade, a factor that saw Tuchel omit Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish this time. “Keep on pushing,” he said, adding that he kept faith with the same group to maintain momentum after a camp he described as the best yet for spirit and teamwork. England play Wales in a friendly on Thursday.
O futuro é agora. #FazHistória por Portugal. ✨ @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/EEku9AUhj5
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) January 6, 2025
In Group F, Portugal can book top spot with wins against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday, unless Armenia defeat both of those sides. Roberto Martinez’s team hit eight goals in two September outings, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring three, including one in a tight 3-2 success over Hungary settled by a late Joao Cancelo penalty. Portugal are targeting a seventh consecutive appearance at the finals.
🇳🇴 Norway are flourishing so far in World Cup qualifying.#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 3, 2025
Norway have stormed through qualifying with 24 goals in five straight wins. Erling Haaland already has nine group goals, five of them in an 11-1 demolition of Moldova last time out. Stale Solbakken’s side host Israel on Saturday and will end a 28-year wait for a World Cup spot with a win if Italy fail to beat either Estonia or Israel in Group I. Norway must cope without captain Martin Odegaard after the Arsenal midfielder suffered a knee injury. “We lost our captain, and we have to live with that,” Solbakken said, urging a constructive response.
Four-time world champions Italy are desperate to avoid the play-offs after falling at that stage in both the 2018 and 2022 cycles to Sweden and North Macedonia. France, champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, could also qualify with victories against Azerbaijan and Iceland if Iceland draw with Ukraine. European champions Spain have a route to confirm early, but only if they beat Georgia and Bulgaria and a series of other results in Group E fall their way. Croatia and Switzerland are also in range of sealing progress in the coming week.
Germany, meanwhile, have little margin for error in Group A after a shock opening defeat by Slovakia. Julian Nagelsmann’s side face Luxembourg on Friday before travelling to Windsor Park to meet Northern Ireland on Monday as they attempt to steady their campaign.
