Poland v Netherlands, Croatia v Faroe Islands, and more: World Cup 2026 qualifying – live

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Which countries have qualified, and how did they do it?

This article by Andy Martin does exactly what it says on the tin:

Croatia v Faroe Islands teams

Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol, Marco Pasalic, Modric, Mario Pasalic, Perisic, Petar Sucic, Kramaric, Musa. Substitutes: Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Sutalo, Moro, Orsic, Vlasic, Jakic, Fruk, Ivanovic, Matanovic, Ivusic, Pandur.

Faroe Islands: Lamhauge, Faero, Gunnar Vatnhamar, Andrias Edmundsson, Rene Shaki Joensen, Turi, Andreasen, Davidsen, Frederiksberg, Hanus Sorensen, Meinhard Olsen. Substitutes: Dam, Svensson, Bjartalid, Oregaard, Klettskard, Mork, Martin Agnarsson, Justinussen, Joan Edmundsson, Knudsen, Benjaminsen, Reynatrod.

Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan)

Slovakia v Northern Ireland teams

Slovakia: Dubravka, Gyomber, Skriniar, Obert, Hancko, Bero, Lobotka, Rigo, Duris, Strelec, Haraslin. Substitutes: Rodak, Takac, Pekarik, Vavro, Mesik, Leo Sauer, Bobcek, Bozenik, Benes, Tupta, Hrosovsky, Schranz.

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell, McConville, Ballard, McNair, Hume, Bradley, Saville, Devenny, Lyons, Price, Charles. Substitutes: Hazard, Southwood, Lewis, Devlin, Marshall, Donley, Smyth, Reid, Kelly, McDonnell, Magennis, Brown.

Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)

Thomas Tuchel wants his England substitutes to channel any anger they feel at not starting into making the difference when they can because the team that win the World Cup will be defined by productivity off the bench.

The head coach will prepare a heat-proof gameplan for the finals next summer when temperatures at many of the venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada are expected to be stifling and a major part will involve how best to use his substitutes.

Poland v Netherlands teams

Poland (4-4-1-1): Grabara; Kedziora, Ziolkowski, Kiwior, Cash; Szymanski, Zielinski, Skoras, Zalewski; Kaminski; Lewandowski. Substitutes: Kochalski, Szczesniak, Rozga, Swiderski, Kapustka, Grosicki, Wszolek, Buksa, Kozlowski, Bereszynski, Dragowski.

Netherlands (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Geertruida, Timber, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong, Malen; Kluivert, Gakpo, Depay. Substitutes: Flekken, Valente, Quinten Timber, Lang, Reijnders, Schouten, Roefs, Van Hecke, Emegha, Simons, Ake, De Ligt.

Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)

Teemu Pukki came off the bench for Finland on 78mins – plenty of the Malta players would have seen him play many times on the telly. But Malta held on for their win.

“The Maltese are celebrating, as they should, while the Finns look shell-shocked,” writes Kári Tulinius, watching events unfold in Helsinki.

“I’d say the post-match commentary on Finnish TV was funereal, but it was more like a group of people discussing whether they should stage an intervention. At one point, there was discussion whether this was rock bottom or not.”

Things can always get worse, that’s my motto. Thanks for the update as always, Kári.

Malta joy, Finland woe. Photograph: Heikki Saukkomaa/AP

Malta are ranked 166th in the world, Finland are 72nd. That’s a bona fide giant-killing.

Finland have just lost 1-0 at home to Malta, which is a turn-up for the books in Group G. Jake Grech’s goal on 81min won it for the visitors. That’s Malta’s first win in seven games in this campaign, to go with two draws. Dancing in the streets of Valletta tonight?

Malta. Winners! Photograph: Pirjo Tuominen/EPA

Luxembourg v Germany teams

Luxembourg: Moris, Jans, Korac, Carlson, Bohnert, Olivier Thill, Martins Pereira, Olesen, Barreiro, Sinani, Dardari. Substitutes: Djabi Embalo, Curci, Avdusinovic, Muratovic, Pereira Cardoso, Veiga, Selimovic, Dzogovic, Sebastien Thill, Martins, Fox, Moreira.

Germany: Baumann, Baku, Anton, Tah, Raum, Pavlovic, Goretzka, Sane, Wirtz, Gnabry, Woltemade. Substitutes: Thiaw, Kimmich, Leweling, Ouedraogo, Burkardt, Nubel, Nmecha, El Mala, Schlotterbeck, Schade, Brown, Dahmen.

Referee: John Brooks (England)

Gibraltar v Montenegro teams

Gibraltar: Hankins, Jolley, Ronan, Lopes, Jessop, Torrilla, Annesley, Mauro, Pozo, Borge, James Scanlon. Substitutes: Banda, Del Rio, Morgan, Richards, Lopez, Bent, Perera, Olivero, McCafferty, Vinet, Mouelhi, Bartolo.

Montenegro: Nikic, Marusic, Tuci, Sipcic, Radunovic, Jankovic, Adzic, Bulatovic, Milan Vukotic, Osmajic, Krstovic. Substitutes: Popovic, Petkovic, Milic, Simun, Rubezic, Vesovic, Brnovic, Perovic, Djukanovic, Kostic, Loncar, Camaj.

Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou (Greece)

Can the Netherlands do it on a cold night in Warsaw? We’ll be focusing mostly on the match at the top of Group G. If Poland can win, they’d draw level on points with their opponents at the top of the group, although the Dutch goal difference is vastly superior: before kick-off it’s +19 to Poland’s +6. On Monday Poland are away in Malta while the Netherlands host Lithuania. Barring a shock the Netherlands will win the group regardless.

Preamble

Netherlands v Poland, Luxembourg v Germany, Slovakia v Northern Ireland and Croatia v Faroe Islands are just some of the top football matches occurring this evening on the road to the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Gibraltar v Montenegro is also a football match, whether it counts as top, I will leave others to decide.

Germany need to tread carefully in Group A after losing their opener to Slovakia, while the Dutch and the Poles are duking it out for top spot in Group G. Northern Ireland are also in with a shot in Group A, but an away assignment in Slovakia won’t be easy.

For all your permutations, consult Ed Aarons’ definitive group-by-group breakdown below. I’ll also bring you some permutations musings shortly, plus team news and other stuff. You can always send me an email with your thoughts, too. Let’s get it on.

Kick-offs: 7.45pm UK time

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