30 of the 48 participants for the World Cup next summer have been confirmed. By Wednesday, the field for the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada will grow to 42 fixed starters – the remaining six will be determined in playoff games in March. An overview of the last game day before the playoffs:
Europa
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Group A: Germany and Slovakia (both 12 points) will take first place in the direct duel in Leipzig. The Slovaks have to win, a draw is enough for the DFB team.
Group B: Switzerland (13 points) and Kosovo (10) occupy the first two places. In the final direct duel, Switzerland can afford a defeat with a difference of up to five goals. Kosovo can no longer be pushed out of second place.
Group C: Denmark (11) leads the group ahead of Scotland (10), with a direct duel in Glasgow on the last matchday. A point is enough for the Danes, the Scots need a win.
Group D: Vice world champions France are safely qualified with 13 points, the game in Azerbaijan is meaningless. Ukraine and Iceland are tied for second place. While Ukraine needs a win, Iceland needs a draw.
Group E: Spain (15 points, +19 goals) has all the trump cards before the final group game against Turkey (12, +5). The European champion can afford a defeat with a difference of up to six goals for the World Cup ticket.
Group F: Portugal (10 points) is challenged again after the defeat in Ireland. Without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, a home win against Armenia would be enough. Hungary (8) and Ireland (7) duel for second place in Budapest.
Group G: Qualification for the Netherlands (17 points, +19 goals) is just a formality before the last game against Lithuania. The playoffs await Poland and Robert Lewandowski (14, +6).
Group H: Austria (18 points) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (16) make up the starting place in a direct duel. A draw in the home game is enough for Austria.
Group I: Norway (21 points, +29 goals) is virtually the group winner, Italy (18 points, +12 goals) is threatened with the playoffs. In the direct duel in Milan, the four-time world champion can catch up on points with a win. In order to catch up on the goal difference, you would need a win with at least a nine-goal difference.
Group J: Belgium’s qualification (15 points) is likely to be a formality given a home game against Liechtenstein. Behind them, Wales and North Macedonia (both 13) are in second place in a direct duel – Wales needs a win.
Group K: England (21 points) are safely qualified as group winners, the playoffs await Albania (14). Serbia (10) is out.
Group L: Croatia (19 points) secured the direct ticket before the group final. Czech Republic (13) will compete in the playoffs.
Africa:
Nigeria (4:1 after extra time against Gabon) and DR Congo (1:0 against Cameroon) will play in the African playoff final on Sunday (8 p.m.) for a place in the intercontinental playoff tournament, in which two tickets will be awarded among six starters in March. Nigeria around star striker Victor Osimhen is considered the favorite on a neutral pitch in Rabat, Morocco.
Asia:
As in Africa, a starter for the intercontinental playoff tournament is still being sought in Asia. In the first leg, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq drew 1-1. The second leg takes place on Tuesday (5 p.m.) in Basra, Iraq.
North and Central America:
Group A: Suriname (9 points, +5 goals) and Panama (9 points, +2 goals) are fighting a long-distance duel for the World Cup ticket. Suriname visits Guatemala on the final day of the match, while Panama plays a home game against El Salvador.
Group B: The Caribbean duel between Jamaica (10 points) and Curacao (11) will determine a direct starter for the World Cup. Jamaica, who have already taken part in the World Cup in 1998, need a win at their home game in Kingston to overtake their rivals. It would be the first World Cup participation for Curacao, coached by Dick Advocaat (78 years old).
Group C: Honduras (8 points, +3 goals) and Haiti (8, +1 goal) have the best chances of winning the group. Costa Rica (6) can only get the direct ticket with a home win against Honduras if Haiti fails against outsiders Nicaragua in their own stadium.
The best runners-up: The two best runners-up from the three groups complete the intercontinental playoff tournament. Bolivia, representing South America, and New Caledonia (Oceania) have already qualified for this event, plus one representative from Asia and one from Africa.
