The small Caribbean state of Curaçao sensationally qualified for the World Cup and thus set a record: never before has a country with a smaller population bought tickets to the World Cup.
A 0-0 draw in Jamaica was enough for the island nation off the coast of Venezuela to maintain their undefeated first place in Concacaf qualifying Group B and secure participation in the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico (11 June to 19 July 2026). Coach Dick Advocaat couldn’t even attend because the Dutch player traveled to his home country for family reasons.
This was Curaçao’s first participation in a World Cup. According to the national statistics authority, the country had 156,115 residents in January – less than half the population of Iceland, which was the smallest FIFA state to date to qualify for the World Cup in 2018.
Haiti qualified for Germany for the first time since 1974
Apart from Curaçao, two other Concacaf teams secured tickets to the World Cup. Panama secured its second World Cup participation after 2018 with a 3-0 win against El Salvador. Haiti won Group C with a 2-1 win against Nicaragua and beat favorites Honduras and Costa Rica. The only World Cup participation in Haiti’s history so far was the 1974 World Cup in Germany.
Former Bundesliga coach Ralf Rangnick has also secured direct tickets to the World Cup with the Austrian national team. In a tense group final in Vienna, a 1-1 (0-1) draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina was enough for Austria to advance to the play-offs. Substitute Michael Gregoritsch (78th minute) saved the ÖFB team from direct qualification shortly before the end. Previously, Haris Tabakovic (12th) from Gladbach ensured the visitors led for a long time.
Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and Scotland also qualified directly for next year’s finals. Scotland made it the most interesting, beating Denmark 4:2 (1:0) at the end of the match. Switzerland and Spain removed the last doubts with a draw: Spain had enough with a score of 2:2 (1:1) against Turkey and Switzerland with a score of 1:1 (0:0) in Kosovo. Belgium, on the other hand, made things clear with an easy 7-0 (3-0) against outsider Liechtenstein.
Drama in Glasgow
But the most dramatic thing happened at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Scott McTominay (3rd) and Lawrence Shankland (78) gave Scotland a double lead. Rasmus Höjlund (57’/foul penalty) and Patrick Dorgu (82′) each managed to equalize for Denmark. A draw was enough for Denmark, but in the third minute of added time Kieran Tierney made the stadium shake. Shortly before the final whistle sounded, Kenny McLean added to the score (90+8). Denmark, long outnumbered after Frankfurt’s Rasmus Kristensen was sent off (61′), had to advance to the play-offs.
The same goes for Türkiye, who only have a chance of qualifying straight away if they win very big in Spain. However, the visitors at least managed to draw with the favorites thanks to goals from Deniz Gül (42) and Salih Özcan (54). Dani Olmo (4) and Mikel Oyarzabal (62) scored for Spain.
Switzerland also drew at Kosovo, who at least made it through to the play-offs after a strong qualifying round. Ruben Vargas (47) gave Switzerland the lead, Florent Muslija (74) equalized.
The World Cup field is almost complete. 42 of the 48 teams for the XXL tournament have been selected, the remaining six countries will not be determined until March. The twelve preliminary round groups will still be drawn in Washington on December 5 (6pm/CET). What is the German group like?
What is clear is that a maximum of one in three opponents can come from Europe. All other confederations may only be represented once per group. Currently, a group with Colombia, Norway including star striker Erling Haaland and South Africa will be one of the most difficult things a DFB team can hope for in the group stages.
Two World Cup semi-finalists Morocco and Croatia as well as former title holders Uruguay could also be unpleasant opponents from pot two. A meeting with Italy is possible if the four-time world champions buy tickets in March.
If Nagelsmann and his team are lucky, they could also be in the preliminary group with Iran, Panama and New Zealand. There are also many outside teams in the draw pot four, such as Jordan, New Zealand, Haiti, and Curacao.
Which teams qualify?
Host (3): US, Canada and Mexico
Asia (8): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.
Oceania (1): New Zealand
North and Central America (3): Panama, Curaçao, Haiti.
South America (6): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Africa (9): Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Senegal, South Africa.
Europe (12): England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland.
Open (6): Four play-off participants are from Europe, plus two from intercontinental tournaments.
