England and Portugal are on course to seal top spots in their respective 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying groups with two matches remaining, while several other European heavyweights aim to clinch their tickets to next year’s finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Norway also stand on the verge of a historic return to the tournament for the first time since 1998, a result that could leave four-time world champions Italy facing the nightmare of missing a third consecutive World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel’s England made a bold statement last month with a dominant 5-0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade, maintaining their perfect defensive record across five qualifiers.
The Three Lions will resume Group K action on Tuesday, and a win over Latvia in Riga could confirm their qualification, provided Serbia fail to beat Albania on Saturday.
England currently lead the group by seven points ahead of Albania, with Serbia a further point behind but holding a game in hand. Several fringe players impressed in the victory over Serbia, prompting Tuchel to omit established names such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish from his latest squad.
“Keep on pushing,” Tuchel said, addressing those left out. “It is a decision for this camp, it was the best camp (in September) in terms of team spirit and team work, this was the best camp so far. We decided to invite the same group of players to make more stable what we built on.”
Tuchel’s men will first take on Wales in a friendly on Thursday. Meanwhile, Serbia’s encounter with Albania could be pivotal in determining who finishes second and heads into the play-offs.
Portugal closing in on early qualification
Roberto Martinez’s in-form Portugal have scored eight goals in their first two September qualifiers and could secure top spot in Group F with two more wins this international break.
Victories over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday would seal progression, unless Armenia pull off unlikely back-to-back triumphs over both opponents.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted three times last month including a goal in the tense 3-2 win against Hungary in Budapest, continues to lead the charge as Portugal chase a seventh consecutive World Cup appearance.
Haaland’s Norway on the brink of history
Norway’s blistering qualifying campaign has seen them net 24 goals in five straight wins, moving them to the brink of qualification. Star striker Erling Haaland has already scored nine goals, including five in their 11-1 demolition of Moldova.
A victory over Israel on Saturday could confirm Norway’s long-awaited return to the World Cup, provided Italy fail to beat either Estonia or Israel in Group I.
However, they will be without captain Martin Ødegaard, who suffered a knee injury while playing for Arsenal last weekend.
“We lost our captain, and we have to live with that,” said coach Ståle Solbakken. “Of course you get angry and upset and those kinds of feelings, but then you quickly get into a mode where you have to think constructively.”
Italy, still haunted by their back-to-back qualifying failures in 2018 and 2022, will be desperate to avoid the play-offs once again after previous eliminations by Sweden and North Macedonia.
Elsewhere, France, winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, could book their spot with victories over Azerbaijan and Iceland, depending on results elsewhere.
European champions Spain also have a mathematical chance to qualify if they defeat Georgia and Bulgaria, though they would need several other outcomes in their favour in Group E.
Croatia and Switzerland are similarly poised to secure qualification in the coming week.
Germany, however, face a more precarious path after their shock loss to Slovakia in their opening Group A fixture. Julian Nagelsmann’s men must recover quickly as they take on Luxembourg on Friday before travelling to Belfast for a clash with Northern Ireland three days later.
