🔥 Qualifiers: Belgium avoid embarrassment, Italy fight back and cruise | OneFootball

It was a Monday (9th) with six games in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Highlights include the presence of Croatia, Belgium, and Italy.

This trio took to the field for only the second time due to their respective appearances in the Nations League quarter-finals during the last FIFA Date in March.

See below what happened in each match and the situation of the favorites.

Regulations 📝

Only the top team from each of the 12 groups will go directly to the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

The 12 teams finishing in second place in their respective groups will be joined by the four best from the Nations League that did not qualify in 1st or 2nd place in the Qualifiers for a playoff that will guarantee four more qualifiers.

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 🆚 North Macedonia 🇲🇰 - Group J

The expectation was for a victory by the visitors on Kazakh soil.

And Trajkovski (33') secured the three points for North Macedonia, which reached eight points and took the lead.

Kazakhstan remains with three points after four matches.

🇧🇪 Belgium 🆚 Wales 🏴 - Group J

The draw in their debut against North Macedonia left Belgium needing a win, as Wales started the round with seven points.

Rudi Garcia's team secured a good lead already in the first half.

Lukaku (15') opened the scoring with a penalty. Tielemans (19') extended the lead. And Doku (27') scored the third. Harry Wilson managed to score before halftime (52').

📸 NICOLAS TUCAT - AFP or licensors

Lukebakio came off the bench but missed a great chance to make it 4-1 - and would be substituted afterward. The consequence was the Welsh comeback.

Thomas scored the second at 51'. And provided the pass for Brennan Johnson (70') to equalize.

Tension rose. As did the Belgian pressure in the final minutes.

Lukaku even scored after a beautiful team play. But VAR indicated the ball went out on the sideline.

Then De Bruyne completed a cross from Tielemans (88').

A goal that took Belgium to four points. Wales has seven, against North Macedonia's eight - rivals who have already played four matches.

🇭🇷 Croatia 🆚 Czech Republic 🇨🇿 - Group L

It was already a real decision - especially for the home team.

Croatia needed to do their part, as the Czech Republic came from three games and three victories.

Highlight of the last round, Kramaric opened the scoring at 42'. After a cross from the right, Gvardiol (who had a goal disallowed earlier) set it up and he just finished.

Soucek (58') evened the score. But then came goals from Modric, from a penalty (62'), and Perisic (68').

📸 DAMIR SENCAR - AFP or licensors

Budimir (72') and, again, Kramaric (75') closed the score.

Modric & Co. reached six points in two games.

And TWELVE goals scored.

🇫🇴 Faroe Islands 🆚 Gibraltar 🇬🇮 - Group L

James Scanlon (23') opened the scoring for the visitors in Tórshavn.

But Frederiksberg (71') and Johannesen (86') secured the first victory for the Faroe Islands.

And kept Gibraltar at zero and at the bottom of the table.

🇪🇪 Estonia 🆚 Norway 🇳🇴 - Group I

With 100% and a great goal difference after three rounds, Norway had a considerable but very accessible mission away from home to remain in a great position for a direct spot in the World Cup.

The first half was not as expected. They created a lot - 11 shots -, but only one, with Haaland, was on target.

It was up to the Manchester City striker to secure the 12 points out of 12 possible thanks to the goal scored at 62'.

📸 RAIGO PAJULA - AFP or licensors

There was no walkover, but there was confirmation of the 100%.

🇮🇹 Italy 🆚 Moldova 🇲🇩 - Group I

It was a must-win against the weakest team in the group, ranked 154th in the FIFA rankings. And that's what Italy did in Emilia-Romagna.

But there was suffering at the Mapei Stadium, the home of Sassuolo.

Ion Nicolaescu even scored for the visitors in the 1st half, but he was offside.

Raspadori (40') with a beautiful finish scored the relief goal. And Cambiaso (50') extended the lead right after the break.

📸 Alessandro Sabattini - 2025 Getty Images

Italy went to three points after two games. They remain nine behind Norway and with a negative goal difference of one.

Israel (six points in three matches) is in second place.

It was the farewell of coach Luciano Spalletti from the Azzurra.

📅 Games this Tuesday (10th):

3:45 PM (Brasília time)

Finland 🆚 Poland - Group G

Netherlands 🆚 Malta - Group G

San Marino 🆚 Austria - Group H

Romania 🆚 Cyprus - Group H

Latvia 🆚 Albania - Group K

Serbia 🆚 Andorra - Group K

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 BRUNO FAHY