Portugal secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dominant 9-1 victory over Armenia, bouncing back emphatically from their recent shock defeat to the Republic of Ireland. Despite the absence of suspended captain Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese showcased their attacking prowess as midfielders Bruno Fernandes and João Neves both scored hat-tricks, supported by goals from Renato Veiga, Gonçalo Ramos, and Francisco Conceição. This result ensured Portugal topped Group F, marking their seventh consecutive World Cup qualification. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland clinched a playoff spot thanks to Troy Parrott’s dramatic 96th-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Hungary, capping a remarkable week for the young striker who also starred in the upset win over Portugal.
In another historic qualification, Norway ended their 28-year World Cup drought by defeating Italy 4-1, sealing their place with an unbeaten record in Group I. Erling Haaland was instrumental, scoring a quickfire brace to turn the match around after an early Italian goal, while Jørgen Strand Larsen added a late fourth to underline Norway’s dominance. The victory sparked celebrations for Haaland, who expressed relief after a high-pressure campaign, and captain Martin Ødegaard, who described the achievement as „absolutely insane.” Italy, despite the loss, secured a playoff berth as Group I runners-up, while Israel finished third after a 4-1 win over Moldova.
Elsewhere in European qualifying, France and England concluded their campaigns in style. France, having already qualified earlier in the week, wrapped up with a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan, while Ukraine secured second place in Group D with a 2-0 victory over Iceland. England completed a perfect qualifying record, winning all their matches without conceding a goal—a European record—as Harry Kane’s brace against Albania sealed a 2-0 win. Kane expressed confidence in England’s squad depth, labeling them as one of the favorites for the upcoming tournament. In Group K, Serbia beat Latvia 2-1 in a dead-rubber match, with Albania having already secured second place behind England.
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