France’s World Cup qualification is now confirmed after a dominant performance, contrasting sharply with the anxious waits for footballing giants Portugal and Norway, who face nail-biting final qualifiers to secure their spots.
France Seals World Cup Qualification Amidst Solemn Commemoration
France secured their place for the 2026 World Cup with a decisive 4-0 triumph over Ukraine on Thursday at the Parc des Princes. This victory coincided with the poignant 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks, with the stadium observing a minute of silence to honor the 130 victims from November 13, 2015.
Coach Didier Deschamps, who also led the team a decade ago, expressed pride in the team’s achievement amidst the emotional context. “Given the context tonight, we are pleased to have put some smiles on faces by securing qualification,” Deschamps stated. “We have fulfilled our objective.” Second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Hugo Ekitike’s first international strike sealed France’s unassailable six-point lead in Group D. SindhNews.com reports the event details.
Portugal’s World Cup Hopes Derailed by Shock Defeat
Portugal’s automatic qualification bid faced a significant setback, suffering a 2-0 defeat in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland. Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card for violent conduct further complicated their evening. Troy Parrott’s brace put Ireland ahead, with Ronaldo’s dismissal in the second half significantly hindering Portugal’s comeback efforts.
This leaves Portugal on 10 points in Group F, three ahead of Ireland and two ahead of Hungary, with a critical final match against Armenia ahead. Midfielder Bernardo Silva conveyed the team’s disappointment, saying, “We didn’t manage (to win), we’re sad and disappointed with what we did here today.” Ronaldo’s potential suspension adds further uncertainty for their final qualifier.
Intense Finale Awaits Norway in World Cup Qualification Race
Despite a commanding 4-1 victory over Estonia, largely thanks to doubles from Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth, Norway’s World Cup qualification remains in the balance. Their fate hinged on Italy’s performance against Moldova in a later match.
The Moldovans held strong until Gianluca Mancini’s 88th-minute goal, followed by Pio Esposito’s injury-time strike for Italy, denied Norway immediate certainty. Italy’s victory kept their automatic qualification hopes alive. This sets up a high-stakes encounter in Group I between Italy and Norway at the San Siro on Sunday. With three points separating the pair, and Norway holding a strong 3-0 head-to-head advantage from their June encounter, the upcoming match promises high drama.
Conclusion
While France celebrates securing their place, the final group matches promise intense drama. Portugal and Norway now face high-pressure scenarios, highlighting the competitive spirit and unpredictability of international qualifiers. The coming days will decide which nations ultimately join France at the 2026 tournament in North America.