Spain Wins, Moves Closer to 2026 World Cup
Spain secured a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in Sofia, advancing their quest for a direct spot in the 2026 World Cup. The win, under coach Luis de la Fuente, places Spain in a strong position within Group E, which also includes Turkey and Georgia. The team, having participated in the last 12 World Cup finals and winning the tournament in 2010, seeks a direct qualification for the upcoming edition.
Relevance of Spain’s Performance
Spain’s triumph over Bulgaria, who finished 4th in the 1994 World Cup, demonstrates their dominance. The La Roja team’s consistent presence in the final stages of the World Cup underscores their status as a formidable force in international football.
Germany’s Position Deteriorates
Germany suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Slovakia in Bratislava, complicating their pursuit of a World Cup berth. Goals from David Hancko (42nd minute) and David Strelec (55th minute) left Germany with their fourth loss in World Cup qualifiers, including home defeats against Portugal (1985), England (2001), and North Macedonia (2021).
Implications of Germany’s Loss
Germany, a four-time World Cup champion (1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014), now faces a challenging situation. With only one spot available for direct qualification in their group of four teams, Germany must win against Northern Ireland on Sunday to remain in contention. Otherwise, they’ll need to navigate a playoff in late March, thanks to their fourth-place finish in the Nations League.
Thursday’s Results
- Group A: Luxembourg 1-3 Ireland North; Slovakia 2-0 Germany
- Group E: Georgia 2-3 Turkey; Bulgaria 0-3 Spain
- Group G: Lithuania 1-1 Malta; Netherlands 1-1 Poland
- Group J: Kazakhstan 0-1 Wales; Liechtenstein 0-6 Belgium
Upcoming Matches in Round 5
- Friday, September 5:
- Group B: Slovenia vs. Sweden, Switzerland vs. Kosovo
- Group C: Greece vs. Bulgaria, Denmark vs. Scotland
- Group D: Iceland vs. Azerbaijan, Ukraine vs. France
- Group I: Moldova vs. Israel, Italy vs. Estonia
- Group L: Faroe Islands vs. Croatia, Montenegro vs. Czech Republic
- Saturday, September 6:
- Group F: Armenia vs. Portugal, Republic of Ireland vs. Hungary
- Group H: Austria vs. Cyprus, San Marino vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Group K: Latvia vs. Serbia, England vs. Andorra
Group Standings
Group A
- Ireland North – 3 points
- Slovakia – 3 points
- Luxembourg – 0 points
- Germany – 0 points
Group B
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Slovakia
- Kosovo
Group C
- Denmark
- Greece
- Scotland
- Bulgaria
Group D
- France
- Ukraine
- Iceland
- Azerbaijan
Group E
- Spain – 3 points
- Turkey – 3 points
- Georgia – 0 points
- Bulgaria – 0 points
Group F
- Portugal
- Hungary
- Republic of Ireland
- Armenia
Group G
- Netherlands – 7 points
- Poland – 7 points
- Finland – 7 points
- Lithuania – 3 points
- Malta – 2 points
Group H
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – 9 points
- Austria – 6 points
- Romania – 6 points
- Cyprus – 3 points
- San Marino – 0 points
Group I
- Norway – 12 points
- Israel – 6 points
- Italy – 3 points
- Estonia – 3 points
- Moldova – 0 points
Group J
- Wales – 10 points
- North Macedonia – 8 points
- Belgium – 7 points
- Kazakhstan – 3 points
- Liechtenstein – 0 points
Group K
- England – 9 points
- Albania – 5 points
- Serbia – 4 points
- Latvia – 4 points
- Andorra – 0 points
Group L
- Czech Republic – 9 points
- Croatia – 6 points
- Montenegro – 6 points
- Faroe Islands – 3 points
- Gibraltar – 3 points
