🌍World Cup, who can qualify today: England, CR7 record, Nigeria stunned 😨 | OneFootball

As Italy prepares for the crucial showdown against Israel, decisive for qualification to the World Cup playoffs, today could already deliver major verdicts around the world.

Today is a decisive day for many countries. Matches are being played in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the outcomes are anything but predictable.

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By tonight, in fact, five teams could secure a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup. However, football has taught us to expect surprises and turnarounds, so it’s not out of the question that the number of qualified teams could even rise to seven.

Let’s take a closer look at the situations in the three continents and the national teams dreaming of booking their ticket to America.

🌏 ASIA

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

The United Arab Emirates, buoyed by their win against Oman, can count on two out of three possible results to celebrate. The situation is more complicated for Qatar, who have only one goal: to win.

The same scenario applies to Iraq, who are forced to win to return to the World Cup after forty years of absence. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, thanks to the number of goals scored, can settle for a draw to book their ticket to America.

🇪🇺 EUROPE

England is ready to write the first important page of these qualifiers: with 5 wins in 5 matches, Thomas Tuchel’s team is one step away from the finish line.

Just three more points against Latvia tonight would mathematically secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, making them the first European national team to qualify.

But the focus also remains on Portugal, who could experience a historic night. If they beat Hungary and Armenia draws or loses against Ireland, the Portuguese would achieve their goal and gift Cristiano Ronaldo his sixth World Cup appearance.

🌍 AFRICA

In Africa, a day of extremely high tension is looming. It’s the final round, the groups are closing, and that means there’s no escaping the verdicts. Three national teams will punch their ticket to the 2026 World Cup: with Senegal and Ivory Coast ready to finish the job against Mauritania and Kenya.

Both occupy first place in their respective groups, but surprises are never lacking in football.

Because the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a win and a simultaneous loss by Senegal, would snatch their place at the World Cup. The same goes for Gabon, who must win and hope that Ivory Coast draws or loses.

The spotlight is also on Nigeria’s group. Osimhen and Lookman’s Super Eagles will face group leaders Benin in a direct clash that could mean "goodbye World Cup."

South Africa, on the other hand, hosts a Rwanda side already out of contention. To qualify, the Bafana Bafana must win and hope that Nigeria beats Benin. Or win by two goals if the Nigerians draw. In short, anything is still possible.

🏆 ALREADY QUALIFIED NATIONAL TEAMS

The historic first qualification of Cape Verde for a World Cup brings the number of national teams that have already secured a spot 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