World Cup Qualifying: Italy, Türkiye Take Big Steps Toward Booking Spots

By next Tuesday, all 48 spots in the 2026 World Cup – the largest edition in tournament history – will be filled. 

Until then, there's a lot of important soccer happening around the world – including a full slate of games on Thursday to see who'll be advancing in World Cup qualifying.  We're recapping all the day's action.

UEFA Path A: Italy On Cusp of World Cup Spot

It's inexplicable that a country with such a rich soccer heritage and which has won four World Cup titles has not reached soccer's biggest stage since 2014. Surely Italy won't miss yet another tournament, right?

Well, the Azzurri took a step in the right direction by beating Northern Ireland in Bergamo. Sandro Tonali broke the deadlock with a half-volley early in the second half for Italy at home in Bergamo and then set up another goal for Moise Kean.

They will now have to travel to Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina for a spot in the World Cup – where they'll join Group B (co-hosts Canada, Qatar, Switzerland). 

Path B: Sweden's Gyokeres Hits Hat Trick – Next Up? Poland

A hat trick by Victor Gyokeres saw Sweden handle Ukraine and take another step closer towards the World Cup. The Swedes will next face Poland, who defeated Albania. The team that wins this playoff will join the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F at the World Cup.

Piotr Zieliński's second-half equalizer, followed by Robert Lewandowski's second-half goal put Poland rally past the Albanians. 

UEFA Path C: Türkiye, Kosovo Advance; Winner Joins USA's Group

We're closer to getting the full picture of who will join the USA's World Cup group.

Real Madrid's Arda Güler set up Ferdi Kadioglu's goal as Türkiye took down Romania to give them another step toward advancing to the World Cup. Türkiye will next take on Kosovo, who outlasted Slovakia in a seven-goal thriller. 

The winner of the Türkiye-Kosovo match on Tuesday will join the USA, Paraguay and Australia in Group D. Those matches will be played in Vancouver (vs. Australia), Santa Clara, Calif. (vs. Paraguay) and Los Angeles (vs. the USA).

Romania’s elimination means that 80-year-old Mircea Lucescu won’t get a chance to coach at the World Cup for the first time. Lucescu captained Romania at the 1970 World Cup. He previously coached Türkiye.

Nicolae Stanciu hit the post in the second half in Istanbul, but Romania couldn't muster the equalizer. 

"We knew it would be a tough match. Lucescu knows us well and prepared accordingly," Türkiye captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu said. "In the first half, we could have made better runs in behind. In the second half, Ferdi scored with a ball in behind and it became 1-0. From then, it was ours."

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Path D: Denmark Throttles North Macedonia; Awaits Ireland-Czechia Winner

Denmark had no trouble with North Macedonia, putting up four goals against North Macedonia. Who will they face next: will it be Czechia or Ireland? 

Whoever emerges from this patch will join co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A. 

Intercontinental Playoff Games

The winner of the Congo vs. New Caledonia/Jamaica match will join Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K. Matches will be played in Houston (vs. Portugal), Guadalajara (vs. Colombia) and Atlanta (vs. Uzbekistan.)

The winner of the Iraq vs. Bolivia/Suriname match will join France, Senegal and Norway in Group I. Those matches will be played in Foxborough, Mass. (vs. Norway), Philadelphia (vs. France) and Toronto (vs. Senegal).