When Matchday 6 of the European QualifiersEurope unfolded on Sept. 6‑7, 2025, the continent’s football map shifted dramatically. UEFA oversaw 13 games across six groups, delivering blow‑out victories for Portugal national football team, England national football team, Spain national football team, Germany national football team and Belgium national football team. The results reshaped group tables, nudging eight nations closer to a coveted spot in the 2026 World Cup set for June‑July 2026 in North America.
UEFA has allotted 16 places for the upcoming tournament. The 12‑team groups (A‑L) each contain five nations; the group winner grabs a direct ticket. The ten best runners‑up (excluding the worst‑performing second‑place side) move to a March 2026 play‑off round, where three more spots are decided. All matches run from March to November 2025, with a break for club duties in December‑January.
Each match typically kicks off at 20:45 CET, though local scheduling tweaks appear – for instance, the Georgia‑Bulgaria clash started at 14:00 local time. Points are awarded in the classic fashion: three for a win, one for a draw.
The goal‑rich displays produced 68 goals across 13 fixtures – an average of 5.2 per game, comfortably above the tournament’s historical 2.8‑goal average.
Portugal’s five‑nil demolition of Armenia was a statement of intent. Cristiano Ronaldo, though not on the scoresheet, created space for João Félix, who netted a brace. England’s neat 2‑0 win over Andorra kept them atop Group K, while their defense remained untroubled.
Spain’s 6‑0 rout in Istanbul stunned the host nation; the match saw four different scorers, highlighting the depth of the Spanish attack. Belgium’s six‑goal blitz in Brussels marked a return to form after a middling 2022‑23 campaign.
Perhaps the most unexpected result came from Georgia, who blanked Bulgaria in front of a raucous home crowd, earning their first three‑point haul of the campaign.
UEFA’s competition director, David Gibson, praised the “spectacular goal‑scoring rhythm” and hinted that the data‑rich matches would make the upcoming play‑offs “even more intense”.
Portugal’s coach, after the Yerevan victory, said the squad “needs to stay humble and keep grinding, the road to North America is still long.” England’s manager echoed a similar sentiment, stressing defensive solidity ahead of the final group games.
Fans in London celebrated the win with chants outside Wembley, while supporters in Yerevan left the stadium in disappointment, questioning the federation’s long‑term planning.
The next two matchdays (Sept. 8‑9) feature a flurry of clashes: Kosovo vs. Sweden in Pristina, Greece vs. Denmark in Athens, and a headline duel between Portugal and Hungary in Lisbon. Those games will determine which ten runners‑up head to the March 2026 play‑offs hosted across neutral venues.
Following the September window, UEFA returns in October (9‑14) and November (13‑18) for the final round of group matches. The three play‑off spots will be decided between March 26‑31, 2026, with winners joining the already‑qualified group champions in the 2026 World Cup.
Europe has historically dominated the World Cup, supplying roughly half of the 48‑team field. The 2026 edition expands the tournament to 48 nations, granting UEFA an extra slot compared with the 2022 edition. That additional place makes the race for the best runners‑up even more ruthless.
Historically, the play‑off system was introduced in 2018 to give a lifeline to strong second‑place teams. In 2022, Croatia, Wales and the USA (via CONCACAF) all secured their tickets via play‑offs, underscoring how a single‑match knockout can rewrite fortunes.
Looking ahead, the continent’s heavy‑weight nations – Germany, Spain, France, England, and Italy – are all expected to lock in direct qualification early. The real thriller will be the mid‑tier teams battling for the best‑runner‑up spots, where goal difference, head‑to‑head records, and even disciplinary points could become decisive.
For nations like San Marino or Liechtenstein, the heavy defeats highlight the gap to the top tier. Their chances now rest on a realistic goal of avoiding last place and possibly pulling off a surprise against a fellow underdog in the final matchdays.
Portugal, England, Spain, Germany and Belgium are now mathematically guaranteed to finish atop their groups, provided they avoid a dramatic collapse in the remaining fixtures. Their point totals stand at 13 (Portugal), 12 (England), 12 (Spain), 13 (Germany) and 13 (Belgium) after nine matches.
The three‑team play‑offs are set for 26‑31 March 2026. Each tie will be a single‑leg knockout at a neutral venue selected by UEFA. The winners claim the final three European berths for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The San Marino Stadium in Serravalle saw six goals, all for Bosnia‑Herzegovina, while the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul also featured six goals in Spain’s demolition of Turkey. Both venues topped the goal‑scoring chart for the day.
UEFA’s 16 spots represent roughly a third of the 48‑team field. While AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and other confederations run parallel qualifying cycles, Europe’s early finish means its teams will know their fate months before many South American or African rivals, potentially giving them a preparation advantage.
Yogitha Priya
Look, while everyone’s busy cheering goals, the real issue is how UEFA’s money funnel keeps the elite clubs fat and the little nations starving. They’re pulling strings behind the scenes, making sure the big leagues stay on top while we get fed the same old propaganda. It’s a drama they think we can’t see, but we do, and we won’t stay silent.