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World Cup qualifying is hurtling in the direction of a conclusion with among the last locations forward of the match in america, Canada and Mexico up for grabs over the approaching days.
Up to now, 30 groups have booked their locations in what has already been a historic marketing campaign for 3 first-time qualifiers, with Jordan, Uzbekistan and the Cape Verde islands all via to the 48-team finals.
England, France and Croatia are the one European groups to have certified to this point however the different 9 group winners can be regularly confirmed within the subsequent few days as the primary spherical of qualifying lastly concludes.
Elsewhere, we’ve got largely reached play-off time throughout the remainder of the world; and that’s earlier than the remainder of the European play-offs and inter-continental play-offs in March.
Confusingly, these video games will happen after the World Cup draw is made on Friday 5 December.
Europe
Qualifying locations obtainable: 16
Groups already certified: England, France, Croatia
With England, France and Croatia via, the 9 different group winners (who all obtain a direct cross to the World Cup) can be confirmed over the ultimate two rounds of qualifying. The 12 group runners-up then undergo to the play-offs in March, alongside 4 groups who earned a play-off spot with their Nations League performances, and 4 extra groups will qualify for the World Cup. This requires a group-by-group breakdown.
Group A
Germany are nonetheless within the driving seat, though they face a last spherical shootout with Slovakia to resolve who qualifies robotically. The 2 groups are stage atop the group on 12 factors and face one another in Leipzig on Monday night. Germany solely must to attract as a consequence of their superior objective distinction whereas Slovakia want a shock away win to pip them on the publish.
Northern Eire are out of the working for a top-two end after Tomas Bobcek’s 91st-minute winner for Slovakia in Kosice however Michael O’Neill’s males are into the play-offs due to their Nations League efficiency. Luxembourg are backside of the group on nil factors and have scored only a single objective in qualifying.
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Germany face a showdown with Slovakia on Monday (PA Wire)
Group B
Switzerland are set to qualify robotically, given they’ve a three-point lead over Kosovo plus an enormous benefit in objective distinction. Switzerland beat Sweden on Saturday and now journey to Kosovo – who can be within the play-offs – on the ultimate day.
Sweden have parachuted in Graham Potter and his solely likelihood of main the crew to the World Cup comes via Nations League qualification to the play-offs.
Group C
Scotland had been overwhelmed 3-2 in Greece on Saturday evening to seemingly throw away their hopes of computerized World Cup qualification, just for Belarus to stun Denmark with a 2-2 draw and hold the group alive.
Steve Clarke’s facet will now meet Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday evening in an enormous showdown to resolve who books their place on the World Cup and who has to accept the play-offs. Scotland should win, or else the Danes will take prime spot.
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Scotland are aiming to achieve their first World Cup for 28 years (PA Wire)
Group D
France are via after beating second-placed Ukraine 4-0 on the Parc des Princes on Thursday. Iceland face Ukraine on Sunday in a showdown for the play-off spot.
Group E
Spain are wanting fairly a three-point lead over Turkey and an enormous benefit in objective distinction. Their win in opposition to Georgia on Saturday was sufficient to lock in qualification, barring a serious collapse at house in opposition to Turkey on Tuesday. Turkey can be within the play-offs.
Group F
Eire’s beautiful win over Portugal in Dublin on Thursday revives their hopes of reaching the play-offs, and the Irish will meet Hungary – one level above them – on Sunday in a battle for the play-off place. Portugal are nearly sure to clinch prime spot, even with out the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, given they play lowly Armenia of their last match.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on one other World Cup look (PA Wire)
Group G
The Netherlands have all however certified with a three-point lead, and an unlimited objective distinction benefit (+19 to +6), over Poland heading into the ultimate spherical of matches. The Netherlands are at house to Lithuania on the ultimate day, needing a degree to mathematically qualify however in actuality will undergo no matter end result, whereas Poland, who’ve locked up second place and thus a play-off spot, go to Malta.
Group H
This may go right down to the wire with first-placed Austria internet hosting second-placed Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. Bosnia are two factors behind and should win to steal the automated qualification place.
Group I
Norway are set to qualify robotically after their 4-1 win over Estonia on Thursday evening left them three factors away from Italy on the prime of the group. The highest two meet on Sunday however the Italians must win by 9 objectives to usurp Norway, whose objective distinction is a unprecedented +29 from seven video games, primarily due to Erling Haaland’s tally of 15 objectives (the following highest scorer in Uefa qualifying has 5). It means Italy are heading to the play-offs.
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Haaland’s objectives imply Norway have an enormous benefit (through REUTERS)
Group J
Belgium are set to qualify robotically for the World Cup, as they lead the group by two factors and play minnows Liechtenstein of their last recreation on Tuesday.
Wales are stage on factors with second-placed North Macedonia, who the Welsh host on Tuesday evening. That recreation is essential as it would resolve who goes via to the play-offs.
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Belgium’s win over Wales put them accountable for Group J (PA Wire)
Group Okay
England are via as group winners and Albania have claimed the play-off spot forward of Serbia, who misplaced 2-0 at Wembley on Thursday evening.
Group L
Croatia turned the third European crew, after England and France, to guide their spot on the World Cup with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over shock bundle the Faroe Islands on Friday night. They’re prime of the pile on 19 factors, six away from second-place Czech Republic with one spherical of matches left.
The Faroes’ valiant defeat to Croatia means they’ve accomplished their eight matches and may now not catch the Czechs – who’re one level forward and host Gibraltar on the ultimate day – in second.
Americas
Qualifying locations obtainable: Six (together with three hosts USA, Canada and Mexico), plus two into intercontinental play-offs
Groups already certified: None via qualifying (USA, Canada and Mexico robotically as co-hosts)
The three group winners, who qualify immediately for the World Cup, can be determined over these upcoming two rounds of qualifying matches, as will the trio of group runners-up, with the perfect two of these reaching the intercontinental play-offs.
Group A
It’s all to play for in Group A, as Suriname lead Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador. The 4 groups go into the ultimate two rounds separated by simply three factors, with Suriname and Panama main on six, Guatemala on 5 and El Salvador on three.
Suriname have by no means certified for the World Cup and play El Salvador and Guatemala of their last two video games. Panama have the identical fixtures, however in reverse. Guatemala and El Salvador are additionally making an attempt to qualify for the primary time.
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The race between Suriname and Panama will go right down to the wire (AFP through Getty Photographs)
Group B
It’s an enormous week for Steve McClaren’s Jamaica. With two video games to go in opposition to Trinidad and Tobago after which Curacao, Jamaica are simply two wins away from qualifying for the boys’s World Cup for the primary time for the reason that 1998 model of the Reggae Boyz. They’re one level forward of Curacao and three forward of Trinidad and Tobago, with Bermuda backside of the group on zero factors. If Jamaica lose away to Trinidad and Tobago, it might open the door for all three groups to qualify on the ultimate day.
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Jamaica are two wins away from a primary World Cup since 1998 (REUTERS)
Group C
Honduras have a two-point lead over Costa Rica with two video games to go. They play Nicaragua earlier than ending the group at house in opposition to Costa Rica, which may resolve the group.
Africa
Qualifying locations obtainable: 9, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Groups already certified: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast
The four-best runners-up from the group stage are competing within the play-offs to find out who goes via to the intercontinental play-offs, ie a play-off for a play-off.
On Thursday, Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 and Cameroon had been defeated by DR Congo 1-0 within the semi-finals, so Nigeria and DR Congo will meet within the play-off last on Sunday.
The winner of that then advances to March’s intercontinental play-offs.
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Nigeria must undergo the play-offs if they’re to achieve the World Cup (AP)
Asia
Qualifying locations obtainable: Eight, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Groups certified: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
The United Arab Emirates are taking part in Iraq throughout two legs to find out who goes via to the intercontinental qualifiers. The primary leg was drawn 1-1 on Thursday, and the second leg can be performed in Basra on Tuesday.
South America
Qualifying locations obtainable: Six, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Groups certified: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay
This was accomplished ages in the past. World Cup champions Argentina turned the primary facet to qualify, with Ecuador ending as shock runners-up. Brazil went via regardless of ending fifth, with Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay additionally advancing. Bolivia, who completed seventh, will enter the intercontinental play-offs.
Oceania
Qualifying locations obtainable: One, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Groups certified: New Zealand
New Zealand have been the primary benefactors of the expanded match, as they’ve robotically certified for the 2026 version through the one place obtainable to Oceanic nations reasonably than having to undergo the intercontinental playoffs as at earlier editions. Qualifying has already ended, with New Caledonia having earned a spot within the intercontinental play-offs.