England turned the primary nation from Europe to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) however Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal may have to wait after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer towards Hungary.
England gained 5-0 at Latvia, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice within the first half, to guarantee first place in its group with two matches to spare. The English, who might be showing at an eighth straight World Cup, have not conceded a purpose in six matches in qualifying to this point beneath German coach Thomas Tuchel.
“Sometimes we make it look easy,” stated Kane, who already has a complete of 21 targets for England and Bayern Munich this season, “but these groups and games can be tough…. We talk about high standards no matter who we play against to keep the momentum, and that showed.”
Ronaldo’s report
Portugal regarded set to be part of England in subsequent yr’s match in North America after two targets from the 40-year-old Ronaldo established a 2-1 lead over Hungary in Lisbon. A win would have assured Portugal a first-place end however Dominik Szoboszlai made it 2-2 within the first minute of added-on time to go away second-place Hungary 5 factors again with two video games left.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo walks off the pitch after a World Cup 2026 group F qualifying match between Portugal and Hungary in Lisbon
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AP
Ronaldo a minimum of left the match with one other scoring report. He now has 41 targets in World Cup qualifiers, breaking a tie for 39 he had with Guatemala participant Carlos Ruiz.
Italy defeats Israel in politically charged match
Italy, which has failed to qualify for the final two World Cups, assured itself a minimum of a spot within the playoffs after beating Israel 3-0 in a match laced with rigidity, performed amid a hefty police and navy presence, and preceded by a pro-Palestinian march attended by an estimated 10,000 folks.
The match was positioned within the highest threat class despite a breakthrough ceasefire deal that has paused two years of conflict in Gaza.
Protesters rally towards the Israeli nationwide group in Udine, Italy
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Reuters
The second-placed Azzurri moved three factors behind Norway, which has a a lot more healthy purpose distinction. Both groups have two matches left subsequent month, together with a sport towards one another in Italy within the last spherical of qualifiers.
Spain stayed high of its group, three factors away from Turkey, by beating Bulgaria 4-0 to preserve its 100% begin to the qualifying marketing campaign.
Turkey additionally gained, 4-1 at dwelling to Georgia, and a minimum of seems set for the spot within the playoffs.
Tuchel impressing with England
Tuchel is placing his personal stamp on the England group — and would possibly probably be successful over some critics who needed an English individual answerable for the nationwide group.
He has made some huge calls, like leaving out high-profile gamers like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden from the squad and taking up England’s followers for being too quiet within the final match, however is getting some spectacular outcomes — albeit towards mediocre opposition.
England supervisor Thomas Tuchel
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Action Images by way of Reuters
If the 5-0 win in Serbia final month was the assertion lead to Tuchel’s tenure to this point, this newest thrashing was one other signal of the assuredness and ruthlessness within the group. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring, Kane added two extra within the first half, and there was an own-goal in addition to a strike from substitute Eberechi Eze after halftime.
“Brilliant — such a very good temper within the dressing room,” Tuchel said, while England defender John Stones added: “We’re building something special.”
Portugal held
Expect Ronaldo nonetheless to get to a report sixth World Cup, however he should wait one other month for that to be confirmed.
Portugal missed an opportunity to wrap up qualification early, with Szoboszlai changing a low cross on the again put up to quieten the house followers on the Estádio José Alvalade.
Attila Szalai gave Hungary an eighth-minute lead with a header from a nook earlier than the enduring Ronaldo stole the present, discovering house to faucet in his 142nd and 143rd worldwide targets — one other report he holds within the males’s sport.
The Al-Nassr striker has now scored a minimum of two targets in a sport for Portugal on 37 events, UEFA stated.
Portugal wants only a level from its subsequent match, in Ireland on Nov. 13, to clinch a seventh straight qualification to the World Cup.
Merino double for Spain
On an evening of scoring doubles, Mikel Merino netted twice for Spain because the European champions made it 4 wins from 4 matches in qualifying and are but to concede a purpose.
After an own-goal, Mikel Oyarzabal added a late fourth for Spain, which performs Georgia away and Turkey at dwelling subsequent month.
Turkey, for whom Merih Demiral scored twice towards Georgia, has not simply three factors however an inferior purpose distinction of 12 to make up to the Spanish.
Snipers on roof
Another participant with two targets was Mateo Retegui for Italy in Udine, the place the heavy police presence included snipers on the roof of the 25,000-seat Stadio Friuli.
Less than 10,000 tickets had been offered for the match that handed off with out main disruption on the sector, after earlier skirmishes between protesters and police on the streets of the town.
