France secured their place in the final tournament of the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not understand the referee’s decision. PDO
In practice, it has probably looked like it for a while, and Norway still has to wait for official confirmation until Sunday.
But it is already clear that the Norwegian futsal team, which crushed Estonia 4–1, will travel to the 2026 World Cup finals held by the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Estonia held on well in the opening period at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, but after the break the floodgates opened when Atlético Madrid Alexander Sørloth and Manchester City Erling Haaland both scored two goals.
Norway now extended their lead to six points ahead of Italy, who still have two matches left. But the Azzurri’s goal difference is only +12, while Norway already has +29.
Erling Haaland led Norway to the goal celebration. EPA / AOP
The teams still face each other in Milan on Sunday, but Italy would need to win that match by at least nine goals to overtake the Red, White and Blue.
Portugal lost
Thursday’s biggest surprise was experienced in Dublin, where the home team Ireland beat Portugal 2–0. The ship of the Lusitanians was derailed at the hour mark, when the captain Cristiano Ronaldo received a straight red card after elbowing Dara O’Shea back.
Portugal still leads qualifying Group F, but must beat Armenia at home in Sunday’s final to keep Hungary behind them.
In block D Kylian Mbappé led France to a 4–0 victory over Ukraine with his two goals. At the same time, Les Bleus became the second European country, which has already mathematically secured its place in the final tournament of the World Cup.
The first was England, who on Thursday beat Serbia at home 2–0. The result meant that Albania is sure to be second in the group. It, in turn, gets a place in March’s World Cup further qualification as a reward.