World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Croatia Thrash Czech Republic, Italy Bounce Back, Norway Unstoppable
Monday night delivered another action-packed chapter in the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, as six crucial matches played out across Europe. From dramatic finishes to unexpected routs, the evening had it all.
Group J: Goals Galore as Belgium Edges Thriller, Wales Falls Short
Belgium and Wales treated fans to a seven-goal thriller in a match that extended nearly ten minutes into stoppage time. Despite the late push, Rob Page’s side couldn’t find an equaliser, falling just short of a miraculous comeback.
The defeat proved costly, as Wales failed to leapfrog North Macedonia, who claimed a vital away victory over Kazakhstan to top the group. With the result, Belgium now sit third in Group J, raising questions about their form ahead of the autumn matches.
Group L: Kramarić Stars as Croatia Crush Czech Republic
Croatia delivered a statement win with a dominant performance over Czech Republic. Striker Andrej Kramarić bagged a brilliant brace as Zlatko Dalić's men cruised to a comfortable win. However, despite the emphatic result, Croatia remains second in Group L, trailing the Czechs who have played two more matches.
Elsewhere in the group, in a clash of European minnows, the Faroe Islands edged past Gibraltar to secure a rare and hard-fought win.
Group I: Italy Rebounds, But Norway Remains in Control
Luciano Spalletti guided his Italy squad to a much-needed win over Moldova, providing a sigh of relief after their earlier loss to a resurgent Norway. While the victory helps restore some confidence, it’s not expected to alter the federation’s stance on the coaching situation just yet.
Norway, meanwhile, continued their perfect run with a gritty win over Estonia, making it four wins from four and solidifying their position atop Group I. Israel remain second, while Italy sits third, facing an uphill climb in the race for automatic qualification.
FIFA World Cup 2026, Qualifiers
Day : 2025-06-09
"Kazakhstan" - "North Macedonia" 0:1 (0:1)
Goals : Trajkovski A., 33 (0:1)
Yellow Cards : Malyi 50; Kuat 79 - Musliu 64; Despotovski St. 81
"Estonia" - "Norway" 0:1 (0:0)
Goals : Håland E., 62 (0:1)
Yellow Cards : Sappinen 55 - Wolfe 49
"Belgium" - "Wales" 4:3 (3:1)
Goals : Lukaku R., 15 (penalty) (1:0); Tielemans, 19 (2:0); Doku J., 27 (3:0); Wilson H., 45 (penalty) (3:1); Thomas S., 51 (3:2); Johnson B-n, 69 (3:3); De Bruyne, 88 (4:3)
Yellow Cards : De Cuyper 31; Trossard 41; Raskin 90 - Ampadu 17; Mepham 79; Wilson H. 82
"Faroe Islands" - "Gibraltar" 2:1 (0:1)
Goals : Scanlon, 23 (0:1); Frederiksberg, 71 (1:1); Johannesen P., 86 (2:1)
Yellow Cards : Faerö 76 - Bent D. 30
"Italy" - "Moldova" 2:0 (1:0)
Goals : Raspadori, 40 (1:0); Cambiaso А., 50 (2:0)
Yellow Cards : Frattesi 85 - Nicolaescu I. 71
"Croatia" - "Czech Republic" 5:1 (1:0)
Goals : Kramaric, 42 (1:0); Soucek, 58 (1:1); Modric, 62 (penalty) (2:1); Perišić I., 68 (3:1); Budimir, 72 (penalty) (4:1); Kramaric, 75 (5:1)
Yellow Cards : - Coufal 66; Holeš 71
