🌍 World Cup Super Tuesday: who can book their place today | OneFootball

While Spain could set their qualification on track today if they beat Bulgaria, Tuesday’s matchday could bring major surprises worldwide. Today is a decisive day for many countries. Matches are being played in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the results are far from predictable.

In fact, tonight, five teams could secure a direct spot at the 2026 World Cup. However, football has accustomed us to surprises and unexpected twists, and it cannot be ruled out that the number of qualified teams could increase to seven.

Let’s take a detailed look at the situation across the three continents and the national teams dreaming of booking their tickets to America.

🌏 ASIA

In Asia it will be a day of high tension and spectacle, with two World Cup 2026 spots to be assigned at the end of head-to-head clashes. The spotlight is on United Arab Emirates–Qatar and Saudi Arabia–Iraq.

The United Arab Emirates, after their win against Oman, can celebrate two of the three possible outcomes. The situation is more complicated for Qatar, who have only one objective: win.

The same goes for Iraq, who are forced to win to return to the World Cup after forty years away. Saudi Arabia, for their part, thanks to the number of goals scored, can settle for a draw to seal their ticket to America.

🇪🇺 EUROPE

England are ready to write the first important page of these qualifiers: with 5 wins from 5 matches, Thomas Tuchel’s team is on the verge of the goal.

Three more points against Latvia tonight would be enough to mathematically secure a place at the 2026 World Cup, thus becoming the first European team to qualify.

But attention is also on Portugal, who could experience a historic night. If they beat Hungary and Armenia draw or lose against Ireland, the Portuguese would reach their goal and gift Cristiano Ronaldo his sixth World Cup.

🌍 AFRICA

A day of high tension is expected in Africa. It’s the final matchday, the group stages are closing, and that means there is no escaping the verdicts. Three teams will book their spots for the 2026 World Cup: Senegal and Ivory Coast are ready to finish the job against Mauritania and Kenya.

Both sit top of their respective groups, but surprises are never lacking in football.

Because the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a win and a simultaneous Senegal defeat, would snatch their World Cup spot. The same goes for Gabon, who must win while hoping Ivory Coast draw or lose.

The spotlight then shifts to Nigeria’s group. The Super Eagles of Osimhen and Lookman will face leaders Benin in a head-to-head clash that could mean “goodbye to the World Cup.”

South Africa, for their part, host a Rwanda side already out of the running. To qualify, Bafana Bafana will have to win and hope Nigeria beat Benin. Or win by two goals if the Nigerians draw. In short, everything is still possible.

🏆 TEAMS ALREADY QUALIFIED

Cape Verde’s historic first-ever World Cup qualification brings the number of teams that have already booked their place at the 2026 World Cup to 22.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 PHILL MAGAKOE - AFP or licensors