Belgium and Germany Secure Hard-Fought Victories in 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers
Belgium and Germany achieved significant victories in the recent European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their performances highlighted the intense competition as teams vie for a spot in the prestigious tournament.
Belgium’s Victory Over Wales
Belgium faced Wales and secured a 4-2 triumph to take the top position in Group J. Kevin De Bruyne was instrumental, scoring two penalties. His first penalty equalized after Joe Rodon’s early header gave Wales the lead.
Following this, Thomas Meunier scored to put Belgium ahead before halftime. De Bruyne’s second penalty came after a period of Welsh pressure. Although Wales substitute Nathan Broadhead found the net, Leandro Trossard’s response on the break sealed the win for Belgium.
Germany’s Hard-Fought Win
In Group A, Germany edged past Northern Ireland with a narrow 1-0 victory. The match was a tough contest, with the goal coming from Nick Woltemade, who celebrated his first international goal. This win marked Germany’s third victory in four matches of the qualifiers.
Matchday Highlights
- Iceland 2-2 France: France maintained its lead in Group D despite relinquishing their perfect record. Goals from Christopher Nkunku and Jean-Philippe Mateta were not enough to secure a win as Iceland equalized in the final moments.
- Slovakia 2-0 Luxembourg: Slovakia recorded a solid win, positioning themselves closely behind Germany in Group A.
- Kosovo 1-0 Sweden: Kosovo secured a crucial away victory in Group B.
- Ukraine 2-1 Azerbaijan: Ukraine continued to apply pressure in Group D with a decisive win.
Upcoming Matches
The action continues as teams prepare for the next round of fixtures. Notable matchups include Spain against Bulgaria and Portugal facing Hungary. These games will be critical as teams jockey for qualification spots.
As the qualifiers progress, the competition intensifies. Belgium and Germany have set a strong foundation, while other nations strive to keep pace. The road to the 2026 World Cup promises more thrilling encounters in the coming weeks.
