The semi-final stage of the final round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers concluded largely without major surprises, as the strongest teams secured their spots, moving closer to FIFA’s premier competition next summer. The nations successfully advancing to the finals include Turkey, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Kosovo, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In arguably the most anticipated match, considering their footballing stature, Italy left little room for doubt against Northern Ireland. Goals from Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Fiorentina’s Moise Kean sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory against an opposition that failed to register a single shot on target throughout the game.
Denmark delivered a dominant performance, crushing North Macedonia 4-0, with Lazio’s Gustav Isaksen netting a quick brace within two minutes. Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres lived up to expectations, scoring an impressive hat-trick for Sweden in their 3-1 win over Ukraine. This particular match was held in Valencia, serving as Ukraine’s designated home stadium.
Semi-Final Results:
- Turkey 1-0 Romania
- Poland 2-1 Albania
- Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
- Slovakia 3-4 Kosovo
- Ukraine 1-3 Sweden
- Czech Republic 2(4)-2(3) Ireland
- Denmark 4-0 North Macedonia
- Wales 1(2)-1(4) Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Cup Qualifier Finals – Tuesday, March 31:
The European World Cup qualifier finals are scheduled for next Tuesday, with all matches kicking off simultaneously.
Upcoming Final Matches:
- Italy vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Poland vs. Sweden
- Turkey vs. Kosovo
- Denmark vs. Czech Republic