Saturday evening offered a new wave of confirmations and twists and turns in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. If some nations have validated or almost validated their ticket, others will still have to fight on Tuesday to secure their qualification.
Switzerland almost qualified, Spain unfolds
This is the main information of the day: Switzerland has taken a big step towards the Euro by outclassing Sweden (4-1). Supported by a solid collective and a constant pace since the start of the campaign, the Nati signs its fourth success in five matches. Barring an improbable collapse against Kosovo on Tuesday (defeat by a minimum of five goals), they will see the North American World Cup.
Same scenario for Spain, who crushed Georgia 4-0 in Seville. Oyarzabal, author of a double, confirmed the return to strength of a Roja now 99% qualified. It will be enough for him to avoid a heavy defeat against Turkey – winner of Bulgaria (2-0) – to definitively validate his ticket.
Denmark slowed down, Belgium late
In other matches, Denmark conceded a frustrating draw against Belarus (2-2). A result which keeps the Scandinavians under pressure: Scotland, narrowly beaten in Greece (3-2), remains in ambush and can still get ahead of them. Same disappointment for Belgium, held in check by Kazakhstan (1-1). Rudi Garcia’s men, unrecognizable, will have to wait until Tuesday to qualify. However, a simple draw against Liechtenstein will be enough to validate their ticket.
Total suspense before the last day
Finally, Austria and Bosnia provided the essentials before their decisive duel on Tuesday. The Austrians won against Cyprus (2-0), while the Bosnians dominated Romania (3-1). Their head-to-head confrontation promises to be explosive, with a World Cup place at stake.
At the end of this evening, one conclusion emerges: with the notable exception of France and England, few of the great players in Europe have already secured their qualification. The level has tightened, the gaps are narrowing, and the last round of the qualifiers promises to be thrilling.
