England has become the first European team to book its ticket to the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions also won their sixth qualifying game with coach Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday 5-0 (3-0) in Latvia, with two goals scored by Harry Kane. Portugal, on the other hand, still has to wait after a 2-2 (2-1) draw against Hungary, in which Cristiano Ronaldo also scored a brace.
England left no stone unturned in Riga and are heading to their eighth consecutive finals.
After Anthony Gordon took the lead (26th), Bayern star Kane scored his international goals number 75 and 76 first with a left-footed shot (44th) and then with a penalty kick (45th + 3).
An own goal from Maksims Tonisevs (58th) and a goal from Eberechi Eze (86th) ensured the final score.
Portugal were just seconds away from victory, which would have meant their seventh World Cup participation in a row. In Lisbon, 40-year-old Ronaldo (22nd/45th+3) initially reverses the early deficit caused by Attila Szalai (8th), who is under contract at Hoffenheim. Ex-Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai (90+1) equalized.
Cristiano Ronaldo is making history again
With his goals number 40 and 41, Ronaldo at least became the most successful goalscorer in the history of World Cup qualification. He previously shared the record with Guatemalan Carlos Ruiz, who scored 39 goals in qualifying games between 1998 and 2016.
Ronaldo is about to take part in his sixth World Cup; no footballer has ever achieved this. The top star is the only player to date to score at least one goal in five different World Cup tournaments: 2006 (1), 2010 (1), 2014 (1), 2018 (4) and 2022 (1).
Spain on course for the World Cup
Spain remains on course for the World Cup after beating Bulgaria 4-0 (1-0). A brace from ex-Dortmunder Mikel Merino (35th/57th), an own goal from Atanas Chernev (79th) and Mikel Oyarzabal (90th + 2/foul penalty) secured the fourth win in the fourth qualifying game.
22 places still available for the 2026 World Cup
So far, 26 teams have already qualified for the upcoming finals. The three hosts USA, Canada and Mexico are automatically there.
Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Uzbekistan made it into Asia’s elimination.
So far from Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Cape Verde and South Africa are included.
Defending champions Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay come from South America.