Overview

• Virgil Ghita of Hannover 96 headed in an Ianis Hagi cross in the 94th minute to seal Romania’s 1-0 victory in Bucharest.
• The win preserves Romania’s path to the 2026 World Cup, with direct entry limited to group winners and playoffs for runners-up.
• DPA reports Austria’s lead over Bosnia and Herzegovina is down to two points, leaving direct qualification unsecured ahead of the November window.
• Ralf Rangnick called the defeat “certainly stupid,” after Austria failed to register a first-half shot and struggled to create chances despite Alexander Schlager’s strong display.
• Mircea Lucescu suggested Austria’s long-standing core has become predictable, as Bosnia–Romania in Zenica on Nov. 15 and Austria–Bosnia in Vienna three days later shape the run-in.