#world-cup-qualifiers

#world-cup-qualifiers

Norway, along with European champions Spain, are one of the best two teams on the continent. That is the view of Israel head coach Ran Ben-Shimon, whose team were torn apart by Erling Haaland and company in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Oslo on Saturday. Norway have not played at a major tournament since Euro 2000, but they are realistically just three points from confirming qualification for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

A tiny break from club football begins with international break, as Germany continues to defend its position in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Facing Luxembourg in Sinsheim, for the first time since 2006, the hosts were touted to have an easy game and so they did. A handball saw Dirk Carlson from Luxembourg sent off with a red. Playing with ten men did not help their cause as they suffered a 4-0 defeat despite resorting to a highly defensive style.

Barcelona's Dani Olmo will miss Spain's World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria with a calf problem, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed Friday. Olmo, 27, will return to Barcelona for tests to determine the severity of the injury. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Olmo had joined up with Spain earlier this week with fatigue and some discomfort in his calf.

"He can play in several positions. You can see that at Aston Villa," Koeman said of Malen. "Of course, he can do it not only as a substitute, but also as a starting force. "But there is competition for the positions in which Donyell plays."

Kevin Diks put Indonesia ahead from the spot in the 11th minute on Wednesday, but Saleh Abu Al-Shamat levelled six minutes later before Al-Brikan scored either side of half-time to secure the points despite a second Diks penalty two minutes from time. Saudi Arabia next face Iraq in Jeddah on Tuesday and know that a win over Graham Arnold's side will guarantee their place in December's draw for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Gennaro Gattuso has suggested he's willing to adapt his tactics as Italy prepare for their World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel, insisting he's ready to "put my ego aside" if a change in formation is what the Azzurri needs. Gattuso, who took over from Luciano Spalletti in June, has posted a 100% record so far, with two victories against Israel and Estonia last month.

In a massive boost for Liverpool, who welcome Manchester United to Anfield after the international break, Konate joined up with the French national team on Monday at Clairefontaine, where he was scheduled to undergo further tests. Meanwhile, amid reports the defender's injury is not a major concern ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland, head coach Didier Deschamps has revealed all 23-man selected are fit.

Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine, has been called up by Algeria for their forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Uganda. Born in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence, the goalkeeper appeared for France at various youth levels but recently switched his international allegiance to Algeria. The 27-year-old is one of three goalkeepers named in Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic's 26-man squad for the matches on 9 and 14 October.

Watch Hungary vs Portugal today as Dominik Szoboszlai and Cristiano Ronaldo feature in a key qualifying game for the 2026 World Cup. Hungary vs Portugal: Key information Date: Tuesday, September 9 Kick-off time: 19:45 BST / 20:45 CET / 14:45 ET Venue: Puskas Arena, Budapest TV & Streaming: Amazon Prime Video (UK), Fubo Sports Network (US) FREE stream: RTP Play (Portugal) Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free

Starting with the hosts, enduring what was a public African Nations Championship nightmare last month, Zambia are enduring what has been another extended crisis. Losing all of their four Group A appearances by an aggregate score of 8-2 as they finished rock-bottom of the table, Avram Grant finds a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders. Failing to collect a single competitive victory across any competition over the past 11 months,

Who'd be a Scotland striker, eh? Even after Steve Clarke's side picked up a potentially priceless point at Parken against Group C top seeds Denmark, the top two of Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes still came in for plenty of stick from supporters. They don't score enough. They don't run enough. They don't do enough. Just some of the pelters the pair received following the first of six World Cup qualifiers.

Portugal's first match of their World Cup qualifiers is also the first chance to mark the passing of Diogo Jota. Who: Armenia vs Portugal What: UEFA qualifiers for FIFA 2026 World Cup Where: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan, Armenia When: Saturday, September 6 at 8pm (16:00 GMT). How to follow: We'll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 13:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream. list of 4 itemsend of list

Denmark vs Scotland match info Date: Friday, September 5 Kick-off time: 19:45 BST Venue: Parken, Copenhagen TV: BBC Two (UK) Free stream: BBC iPlayer (UK) Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free Scotland have not been to a World Cup since France 1998 but hopes will be higher now with recent experience at major tournaments through successive appearances at the European Championships.

England head into tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against Andorra in a no-win position. A resounding win will be met with a shrug of the shoulders as 'it's only Andorra' and any other result will bring widespread criticism. Thomas Tuchel found that out in the reverse fixture when his side toiled for large parts of the game in Barcelona before Harry Kane poked home the only goal.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been added to Thomas Tuchel's England squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. Loftus-Cheek, who has made 10 appearances for England since his debut eight years ago, returns to the Three Lions set-up for the first time since November 2018. The AC Milan midfielder comes into the now 25-man party to replace Adam Wharton, who sustained a groin injury in Crystal Palace's 3-0 win against Aston Villa on Sunday.

"If I'd felt pressure, I would have brought him in," De la Fuente said. "We monitor all the goalkeepers, and Joan could be here now, before, or in the future. And not because he's at Barca. I want to tell you that players from clubs don't come here; this is the national team, regardless of the club they come from. "Let's not make assumptions about whether six or seven come from one club... Let's give this importance. Joan's time will come, for sure."

The 25-year-old was forced off during the first half of Sunderland's 2-0 defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday. Speaking after the Black Cats' Carabao Cup loss against Huddersfield on Tuesday, their boss Regis Le Bris said while the concern was not "long-term", Ballard does face a spell on the sidelines. "It's not too serious so we expect him to be out for two to three weeks," he told the club's website.

Also included despite fitness concerns is Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles. Charles, 20, has been O'Neill's preferred choice in goal since last year's Nations League campaign but he injured his shoulder during Sheffield Wednesday's Championship defeat by Stoke City on Saturday with the Owls confirming on Thursday that he "faces a spell on the sidelines". With his usual international understudy, Plymouth Argyle's Conor Hazard, yet to play this season because of an injury sustained against Denmark in June, O'Neill has recalled Bailey Peacock-Farrell.