European Qualifiers for Cup 2026: Final Round Drama and Key Battles
The European qualification for the 2026 World Cup is entering the home stretch! Very soon, we will find out who will head to conquer the fields of the USA, Mexico, and Canada this summer. In some groups, everything is already clear, but there are those where the intrigue is at its peak. Let's discuss what to expect from the final rounds of qualification, which will take place from November 13 to 18. Let's go!
Group A
An interesting situation is unfolding in the first group! The German national team, which failed in the Nations League "final four," started the World Cup qualification with a loss to Slovakia (0:2). However, Julian Nagelsmann's team won the next three matches, so they lead the group on goal difference despite being level on points with Slovakia. It's unlikely that the Germans will lose the top spot, as the schedule is in their favor. The "Bundesteam" will next face Luxembourg and then Slovakia at home. So, the chances for a direct ticket are high. What's more intriguing is who will take second place and head to the playoffs. The head-to-head match between Northern Ireland and Slovakia on November 14 in Košice will be crucial. Don't miss it!
Group B
Group B is witnessing one of the major negative surprises. The Swedish national team, with its star forward duo, is failing in the qualification. Graham Potter, who hasn't shown anything noteworthy on the coaching front for a while, was urgently brought in. The "yellow and blues" still have a chance to save themselves – they need to win both remaining matches and hope for their competitors' losses. The Swedes and Slovenians are already out of contention for a direct ticket, but Switzerland is doing great, having guaranteed a top-2 finish. The "Crusaders" might only need one point to maintain the top spot.
Group C
In the third group, Greece unexpectedly failed, despite performing well in the Nations League and moving up to the elite division. Therefore, everything is practically clear here. The Greeks and Belarusians are definitely missing out on the top-2, and the fate of the direct ticket will be decided in the head-to-head match between Scotland and Denmark. On November 18, it will be intense at Hampden Park in Glasgow!
Group D
Here, the intrigue is very much alive. Three teams have a chance for a direct ticket. But that's only on paper. In reality, France just needs to beat Ukraine, and the final round will be a formality for them. The real battle will be for the second spot – between the Ukrainians and Icelanders, who will face off on November 16.An in-person meeting is scheduled to take place in Warsaw. Azerbaijan also dreams of jumping into the top-2, but to achieve this, they need to win both matches, which seems unlikely.
Group E
It feels like everything is already settled in Group E. The Bulgarians have lost motivation as they have no chance of reaching the top-2, and for Georgia to compete for second place, they need to beat Spain, who haven't conceded a single goal since the start of the qualifiers. Unlikely, wouldn't you agree? The head-to-head duel between "La Furia Roja" and Turkey in the last round is also unlikely to have significant importance, as there is too large a difference in goals scored and conceded between the teams. But it's still worth watching, as the Turks' pride was certainly hurt after the 0-6 defeat in September in front of their home fans.
Group F
One of the most complicated groups, where nothing is clear yet. However, let's not speculate and give Portugal the first place, so Cristiano doesn't get nervous. But the real battle will unfold for second place. Yet, there is an obvious favorite in this battle – Hungary. Simply because Szoboszlai and company no longer need to play against the Portuguese. Deal with your direct competitors, and the playoff spot is yours. The fate of the Magyars is in their own hands.
Group G
Half of the groups have been covered. The second half remains, with five teams in each. In the first such quintet, Malta and Lithuania have already stepped down, and Finland has minimal chances of making it into the top-2. The "Owls" have only one match left, and their goal difference is dismal. Here, everything revolves around the battle for first place. If on November 14, Poland defeats the Netherlands at the "National Stadium" in Warsaw, the intrigue will escalate to an extreme level; if not, Ronald Koeman's men can be congratulated on securing a ticket to the World Cup.
Group H
There are no surprises in this group. The Austrians are leading and can secure the top spot in the next round if they beat Cyprus and Bosnia fails against Romania. The San Marino team is at the bottom with the worst goal difference among all teams participating in the qualifiers. Cyprus has also lost its chances of making it into the top-2, so the main question is who will advance to the playoffs. Romania is currently trailing in this race, but everything could change in the head-to-head match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 15. If the points are tied, Mircea Lucescu's team will have the advantage, as they will face San Marino in the last round, while Bosnia will play against Austria.
Group I
Norway's golden generation is charging towards the World Cup! They are one of the most dominant teams in the qualifiers. However, the peak form of these "Vikings" might dampen the spirits of Italian fans, as their national team risks missing out on a third consecutive World Cup. Bookmakers have set odds higher than ten for "Squadra Azzurra" to top the group, indicating minimal chances. Mathematically, they still have hope – with a crucial head-to-head against Norway coming up, offering a chance to avenge their 0-3 defeat in June. But this match will only hold significance if Norway somehow fails to beat Estonia. The goal difference is just too substantial. Erling Haaland, who has netted 12 goals in six matches, has truly outdone himself!
Group J
If the previous group has virtually no intrigue left, here there is plenty, but not in the battle for first place. Leading Belgium is set to play against two outsiders of the quintet – Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein, so even without Lukaku and De Bruyne, the "Red Devils" should maintain their lead. However, on November 18 in Cardiff, we are in for a real spectacle – Wales will clash with the sensational North Macedonia for a playoff spot. It is highly likely that by then, the teams will have an equal number of points.
Group K
Thomas Tuchel took charge of the England national team to bring a long-awaited trophy to the golden generation. That is still a long way off, but we note that the "founders" have qualified without breaking a sweat. England was the first among European teams to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Among the remaining teams in this group, Albania and Serbia still have a chance to travel to North America. The most interesting part here is that both direct competitors have already played their head-to-head matches. Unfortunately for the Serbs, they lost to the Albanians (0-1) in a crucial home match, reducing their chances of making the playoffs to a minimum. Understanding this, Dragan Stojkovic resigned. If Serbia loses to England and Albania proves stronger than Andorra, which is quite likely, the final round will become a formality.
Group L
In the last group, the main sensation of the entire qualification loomed, but everything indicates that the fairy tale of the Faroe Islands national team is not destined for a happy ending. The "Fishermen" are just one point behind the Czech Republic, but the problem is they have an away match against Croatia, while the Czechs have a home match against Gibraltar. The chances of closing the gap are extremely low, as is the likelihood that Luka Modric and company will concede the top spot to the Czechs. It seems that in Group L all will remain in their places.
Conclusion
This is the situation in the European qualification for the World Cup before the final rounds. For some, these matches will be decisive, while for others, they will essentially have the status of friendlies. However, we will follow all the matches closely and keep you updated on the events. Statistics, trends, predictions – find everything you need on Scores24!
