France routed Ukraine 4-0 in Paris to clinch a direct berth for the 2026 World Cup. Portugal lost 2-0 to Ireland in Dublin, with Cristiano Ronaldo sent off, pushing their clinch to the final match against Armenia. Norway beat Estonia 4-1 to stay perfect atop Group I with 21 points and a +29 goal difference. Italy beat Moldova 2-0 to remain alive but, on 18 points and +12, must overturn a 17-goal gap on Norway in Sunday’s head‑to‑head to qualify directly. Elsewhere, CAF’s Rabat mini‑tournament and the UAE–Iraq tie will send teams to the March 23–31, 2026 intercontinental playoff, which already includes Bolivia and New Caledonia.
