The latest round of UEFA World Cup qualifiers brought a series of strong performances from Europe’s footballing heavyweights, as France, Portugal, England, Germany and Denmark all secured vital victories that strengthened their campaigns toward the 2026 World Cup. France had to dig deep at home against Iceland, but once again Kylian Mbappé proved decisive. After converting a penalty just before halftime to level the match, the captain later set up Bradley Barcola’s winner in the 62nd minute.
Despite being reduced to ten men for the final twenty minutes due to a red card, France held firm to claim a 2–1 win, maintaining their perfect home record in qualifying. Portugal were equally dramatic in their 3–2 victory over Hungary. Bernardo Silva equalized from the spot after Hungary had taken the lead, before Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into the history books with his 39th World Cup qualifying goal, tying the all-time record.
Joao Cancelo then sealed the win with a late strike, keeping Portugal on top of Group F in what was one of the most thrilling matches of the week. England made an emphatic statement with a resounding 5–0 demolition of Serbia. Harry Kane led from the front with his usual clinical finishing, supported by goals from Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, and Marcus Rashford. The victory not only reinforced England’s dominance in their group but also showcased the squad’s depth and attacking versatility.
Germany bounced back from recent criticism with a much-needed 3–1 win over Northern Ireland in Belfast. Serge Gnabry opened the scoring, while second-half strikes from Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz ensured the three points, ending a worrying winless run and easing the pressure on the team as they look to rebuild momentum. Denmark rounded out the successful night for Europe’s elite with a comfortable 3–0 win away against Greece.
Mikkel Damsgaard pulled the strings in midfield, scoring the opener and assisting Rasmus Højlund’s late goal, while the defense remained rock solid throughout. The result puts Denmark level on points with Scotland at the top of their group, setting up a fascinating race for qualification. Together, these results underline the resilience and strength of Europe’s most established football powers. Each victory carried its own story, but collectively they reinforced the expectation that these nations will remain central figures when the World Cup begins in 2026.
