All articles tagged with #world cup qualification
England defeated Greece 3-1 in the first leg of their Women's World Cup play-off semi-final on Friday, October 9, 2026. Goals from Georgia Stanway, Maya le Tissier, and Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg in Leicester. Manager Sarina Wiegman praised the team's composure but noted defensive issues, while Stanway described the result as only 'half the job done.'
UEFA announced a major overhaul of World Cup qualifying and the Nations League: from 2030, teams in the qualifying groups will be split into 12-team groups with six matches against six different opponents (two from each of three pots), moving away from a full home-and-away round robin; the top teams in League 1 will automatically qualify for the World Cup while the remaining spots go to playoffs, and the 18 lower-ranked nations form League 2 with ongoing qualification paths. From 2028 the Nations League will be restructured into three divisions of 18 (three groups of six) with six matches against five opponents and ongoing promotion/relegation. Ceferin says the changes aim to boost competitive balance, reduce dead rubbers, and avoid adding calendar dates.
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Norway defeated Israel 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier amid pro-Palestinian protests outside the stadium, with Norway leading Group I and closing in on their first World Cup since 1998.
England delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade under coach Thomas Tuchel, showcasing attacking flair and squad depth, which has created tough selection decisions for upcoming matches and significantly boosted their World Cup qualification hopes.
Argentina will face Ecuador in a World Cup qualification match, with expectations high for Argentina after winning the World Cup and with Lionel Messi in top form. The match will be played on Argentina's terms, and a win is expected. Ecuador, while improving, is still reliant on Enner Valencia and faces a tough start to qualifying. The prediction is a 2-0 victory for Argentina.