World Cup qualification
Spain wins flawlessly – and almost certainly has the ticket
Updated 11/15/2025 – 8:08 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The next European participant at the World Cup next summer is almost certain. Because Spain is presenting Turkey with an almost impossible task.
Spain almost certainly has a direct World Cup ticket. With the easy 4-0 (3-0) win in Georgia, the European champions extended their impeccable record in qualifying group E to five wins and 19-0 goals and are practically unassailable at the top of the table before the last matchday and the direct duel with pursuers Turkey.
Mikel Oyarzabal with a brace (11th minute, hand penalty/63rd), Martín Zubimendi (22nd) and Ferran Torres (34th) scored the Spaniards’ goals in Tbilisi, where the German U21s will also be playing in the European Championship qualifiers on Tuesday. Oyarzabal added another goal for the Iberians (63′), who had to make do without the injured Pedri (thigh) and Lamine Yamal (pubic bone problems).
The Turks secured second place with a 2-0 (1-0) win against bottom-placed Bulgaria, meaning the path to the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico will most likely lead via the playoffs. The group victory is only theoretical, the gap to Spain before the top game on Tuesday in Seville is three points and a difference of 14 goals.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu also took the lead for the Turks with a hand penalty (18th). The decision in Bursa came with an own goal from Atanas Chernev (84th).
Austria is now close to direct qualification. Coach Ralf Rangnick’s team did their duty in the 2-0 (1-0) win in Cyprus and is currently five points ahead of Bosnia-Herzegovina. If the pursuer does not win against Romania in the evening (from 8:45 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online), Austria will no longer be able to take the World Cup ticket and thus its first participation since 1998 before the last match day.
Record goalscorer Marko Arnautović gave the Alpenkickers the lead with a penalty after a foul on Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner (18th) and secured the preliminary decision with his second goal after the break (56th).