The first phase of UEFA qualification for the 2026 World Cup is over and the 12 group winners have booked their spot on the plane. The likes of Wales, Ireland, and, more surprisingly, Denmark and Italy, will now have to wait to see who they face in the play-offs, with just four more places up for grabs.
There will be some huge games up ahead, and some strong sides will miss out on next summer’s North American extravaganza. However, the likes of Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands can put their feet up and celebrate a job well done. They, along with Switzerland, Scotland, Austria and Croatia, have all confirmed their spot at the next World Cup.
In addition to the 10 aforementioned nations heading to the USA, Canada and Mexico, England and Norway also topped the groups to qualify automatically. However, those two did it in real style, boasting 100% records and taking maximum points. Both were in five-team groups, so they played eight games and won all eight.
Spain had seemed set to also join the elite 100% club, but they rather surprisingly stumbled at the last hurdle. Having dispatched Türkiye 6-0 away from home earlier in Group E, they could only manage a 2-2 draw in Seville in the final clash of the group. That meant they finished on 16 points out of 18 in their smaller four-nation grouping.
Norway’s Stunning Accomplishment
Norway have produced a qualification tournament to remember, topping Group I ahead of Italy. Gli Azzurri are staring down the barrel of a third consecutive failure to reach the World Cup finals and will be praying they can scrape through via the play-off route. In the end, Erling Haaland’s men finished six points clear of the beleaguered Italians, thanks to winning both clashes against their more illustrious opponents.
Norway set down a marker when they won their opening fixture of the group 5-0 away in Moldova. They then backed it up with a 4-2 win in Israel, but they really proved they meant business when they put the cat among the pigeons by thrashing Italy 3-0 in Oslo.
They then won 1-0 in Estonia before a stunning home win over Moldova put them firmly in the driving seat with a vastly superior goal difference over Italy. They thrashed the minnows 11-1, Haaland netting five times. Another big win – 5-0 at home over Israel – followed and then another, this time 4-1 success in Oslo against Estonia.
Heading into the final fixture of the group, they knew that a draw against Italy would see them to the 2026 World Cup, their first appearance at the global showpiece since 1998. But they did far more than scrape a draw and humiliated the hosts, winning 4-1 at the San Sito despite Italy taking a lead in the 11th minute.
Haaland was sensational throughout qualifying. The Man City ace notched 16 goals in eight games, scoring in all eight. But it was not a one-man show, with Thelo Aasgaard and Alexander Sorloth both netting five apiece. Norway have a team of players that play in the top leagues around Europe. That they won all eight games despite their main playmaker, Martin Odegaard, missing the final three, is also really promising.
England, Eight Wins, Eight Clean Sheets
As the top seeds in their group, England had an easier set of fixtures than Norway. Even so, to win all eight of their matches in Group K without conceding a single goal was a huge achievement. Jordan Pickford had relatively little to do in goals, and while England’s defence is often viewed as a weak area, they gave the Everton shot-stopper plenty of protection.
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Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson appear to be dovetailing nicely in midfield, and all over the pitch there are good relationships being established as Thomas Tuchel seems to be growing more certain of his first XI. Harry Kane will, of course, be crucial to England’s hopes of doing well in North America. If he were to get injured, it would be almost impossible to see the Three Lions lifting the trophy next summer.
However, Kane, Bukayo Saka and Rice are truly world-class performers, so England have a real chance. Jude Bellingham, a star with Real Madrid and assumed to be at that level too, faces a real challenge to get into the first team, so impressive has Morgan Rogers been. With England also having Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in the mix and Marcus Rashford a growing influence with Barcelona, Tuchel’s attack looks as good as ever.
Critics will suggest that seeing off the likes of Andorra and Latvia does not tell us much about England’s ability to mix it with France, Spain, and the other top sides headed to the World Cup. However, any side can only beat what is in front of them. England did that eight times in a row. What’s more, in what was supposed to be their toughest game, away in Serbia, they were excellent, winning 5-0 and putting in a superb display. If they can continue rising to the challenges set for them in the US, Mexico and Canada, they might just have what it takes to end 60 years of hurt.