Early European arrivals

 

Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Turkey, Austria and England became the first teams to join hosts Germany in next year’s Euros while in South American and Asia the World Cup qualifiers were being played.

Croatia were stunned 1-0 at home to Turkey before going down 2-1 to a Harry Wilson brace in Wales while Armenia were upset 2-0 by 10 men in Latvia and Lithuania’s Pijus Sirvys shocked 10 Bulgarians with a double in Sofia. Benjamin Sesko scored twice in Slovenia’s 3-0 win over Finland who took the lead on their return home but lost 2-1 to Kazakhstan for whom Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov netted both goals while Taulant Seferi scored twice as 10 Czechs were taken apart 3-0 in Albania, who leapt up the rankings, and 2 goals from Milot Rashica helped Kosovo to a 3-0 win in Andorra. Greece celebrated a 2-0 win in Ireland as did Azerbaijan in Estonia while Dodi Lukebakio scored twice for 10-man Belgium who secured qualification with a 3-2 victory in Austria and Switzerland needed 2 last-minute goals to salvage a 3-3 draw at home to Belarus.

In World Cup qualifiers Brazil had a shaky week, drawing 1-1 at home to Venezuela before losing 2-0 in Uruguay while Peru lost 2-0 in Chile. In the Asia section Laos earned a 1-1 draw in Nepal while Pakistan held their Cambodian hosts to a goalless draw and Macau achieved the same against their visitors from Myanmar, but the most amazing result was Bhutan’s 2-0 home victory over Hong Kong.

In a CONCACAF Nations League match, Sint Maarten returned from St Kitts & Nevis with a 1-0 triumph.  

Mixed cups

 

The 2026 World Cup qualifiers kicked off in South America, producing no real surprises in the first matches, while in Europe and Africa the focus was on the qualifiers for their respective continental championships and around the Caribbeans the CONCACAF Nations League matches took centre stage.

Alvaro Morata scored 3 times as Spain put Georgia to the sword 7-1 in Tbilisi and Portugal rattled 9 past their visitors from Luxembourg while the other high scorers, Sweden, who scored 5 times in Estonia, came unstuck on their return to Stockholm where they lost 3-1 to Austria. Hungary were 2-1 winners in Serbia while Armenia earned a 1-1 draw in Turkey and Albania achieved the same feat in the Czech Republic.  Finland lost to a late Danish strike in Helsinki while there were 2-0 wins for North Macedonia in Malta and for Wales in Latvia.

Rwanda enjoyed a 1-1 draw with a last-minute goal at champions Senegal and Kevin Denkey scored twice as Togo came from 2 down to beat Cape Verde 3-2 with a late goal in Lomé while Madagascar and Tanzania held their hosts Angola and Algeria respectively to goalless draws.

Among matches played in the CONCACAF Nations League, Alex Rigobert scored 4 times as St Martin took their hosts Anguilla apart 6-0 and Belize were 2-0 winners at French Guiana who ended the match with 10 players.