In a night of high drama and profound emotion, France became the latest nation to secure its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while footballing giants Portugal and Norway saw their qualification parties postponed after surprising defeats.
France Qualifies with Poignant Victory
The French team’s 4-0 triumph over Ukraine at the Parc des Princes was about far more than football. The match was played against the somber backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the November 13, 2015, Paris attacks, which claimed 130 lives. A minute’s silence was impeccably observed, paying tribute to the victims, including one person who died near the Stade de France during a friendly match between France and Germany that night.
Didier Deschamps, who was the manager on that tragic night a decade ago and remains in charge, saw his team deliver a performance of focus and quality to seal an unassailable lead at the top of Group D. After a tense first half, the floodgates opened after the break. Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock, with Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike, who scored his first international goal, adding to the scoreline.
“Given the context tonight, we are pleased to have put some smiles on faces by securing qualification,” said a reflective Deschamps. “We have fulfilled our objective. I understand that it is seen as normal that France qualify, but we still had to go out and do it, so we are very proud.”
With their ticket punched, France can now look ahead to the final draw in Washington, D.C., on December 5. For Ukraine and Iceland—who beat Azerbaijan 2-0—their hopes now hinge on a direct showdown on Sunday for a chance to advance to the play-offs next March.
Ronaldo Sees Red as Portugal Falls in Dublin
In a major upset, the Republic of Ireland derailed Portugal’s qualification bid with a resilient 2-0 victory in Dublin. Tottenham’s Troy Parrott was the hero for the hosts, scoring a first-half brace to put Ireland in a commanding position.
The match turned from bad to worse for Portugal when their iconic captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, was shown a straight red card in the 65th minute for violent conduct. After a VAR review, the 39-year-old was dismissed for swinging an elbow into the back of Irish defender Dara O’Shea.
The loss leaves Portugal top of Group F but now under pressure, with just a three-point cushion over Ireland and a two-point lead over Hungary, who beat Armenia 1-0. Ronaldo’s suspension casts a long shadow, as he could potentially miss the start of the World Cup depending on the length of the ban.
“We didn’t manage to win, we’re sad and disappointed with what we did here today,” admitted Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva. The final matchday now sets up a nail-biting finish, with Portugal hosting Armenia and Hungary welcoming Ireland in a likely shoot-out for the second spot.
Haaland Heroics Not Enough as Norway Forced to Wait
Despite a dominant performance from Erling Haaland, Norway was denied an early celebration after Italy scored a late winner to keep the group alive. In Oslo, Haaland and Alexander Sørloth each netted a second-half double in a 12-minute blitz, powering Norway to a 4-1 win over Estonia.
However, all eyes turned to Chisinäu, where Moldova looked to have held Italy to a stunning draw that would have sent Norway through. That was until Roma defender Gianluca Mancini rose to head home an 88th-minute winner, with Pio Esposito adding a second in injury time to secure a 2-0 victory for the Azzurri.
The result sets the stage for a blockbuster winner-takes-all clash between Italy and Norway at the San Siro on Sunday. Italy must win to have any chance of automatic qualification, while a draw would see Norway through due to their superior head-to-head record, earned via a 3-0 victory in June.
“It wasn’t easy… We also knew that Norway had won, so it was a bit of a strange atmosphere,” said Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali. “It would mean a lot to us to beat Norway, because it might not heal the wound, but it will help us push forward.”
Elsewhere in European Qualifying
In other action, already-qualified England continued their flawless form with a 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley, with goals from Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze. The victory ensures the Three Lions finish the group stage unbeaten. Albania secured second place in Group K and a spot in the play-offs with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Andorra.
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