These nations could debut at the 2026 World Cup

Indonesia had chances. https://www.flashscore.com/match/fo...arabia-biSY8ox4/summary/stats/0/?mid=Cv0LXEkt says they had 2.92 expected goals (xG) and 3.32 expected goals on target, both of which were almost as much as Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia normally qualifies. I checked the FIFA Rankings, and I was surprised to see that Iraq is 1 spot above Saudi Arabia.

 

Why did that surprise you? Iraq had a good run from 2023 till the Gulf Cup in December 2024. We were even closer to qualify from our group than Saudi Arabia.

 

Suriname can get on step closer to their dream with a win against Guatemala today.
But los chapines will not be easy.

 

Curaçao with what could be the game of the day against Jamaica. A win for them is crucial.

 

Not looking good for Gabon right now.

 

They're now leading 4-3 thanks to 4 goals from Aubameyang.

It'd be tough to get 1st place from CIV but they have more or less locked a playoffs spot.

 

The playoff spot is going to be difficult.
They much rather win the group and go directly obviously.
Don't think that will happen.

 

Aubemeyang is on fire. He deserves a World Cup appereance. All those years trying with Gabon, instead of choosing an european country.

What a disappointing qualifiers by Mali. Not even a playoff spot. So many had High hopes for Them.

Guinea have also disaappointed.

 

It'd be incredibly hard, if not impossible due to how dominant CIV has been so far. They'd need CIV to drop points at home to Kenya while also beating Burundi (at home as well). All that w/o Aubameyang (who scored 4 goals today) as well.

But it seems they've already locked in a playoff spot at worst (guaranteed top 4 finish among runners-ups) so there's that.

 

Guinea has always been one of our bogey teams and it's amazing how despite taking 4 points out of 6 against us, they've managed to completely mess up vs the other teams by only taking 10 points out of 7 games.

If you told them beforehand they'd get 4/6 points against Algeria they'd be ecstatic but they've squandered that in a magnificent way.

 

And on top of that, you need to win the Final Four to make it to the Intercontinental Playoffs.

Shít is brutal.

 

Then you'd have to win 1 or 2 games at the intercontinental playoffs as well. It could be a bloodbath to just get to the WC.

 

In the 2000s I always enjoyed watching Guinea at the AFCON, and I thought they, Mali or Burkina Faso one day would qualify for the World Cup. But they always blew their chances

 

I don't even remember Guinea being close to qualifying to the WC, they were always outmatched by superior teams. Mali and Burkina Faso had better chances but they always failed to deliver (2014 vs Algeria for BFA & 2022 vs Tunisia for Mali) in the deciding moments.

 

so, group C in the CAF qualifiers will be fun to watch on theblast matchday.

Benin is on 17 with 12-7 goals.
South Africa is on 15 with 12-9 goals.
Nigeria is on 14 with 11-8 -goals.

So both Nigeria and South Africa needs to win at home on the final matchday or they are out, with Nigeria being even out if South Afroca wins.

But what if Sluth Aafrica doesn't win and Nigeria wins by 1-0?

ain this case, both Nigeria and Benin are on 17 points and with both 12-8 goals!

in this scenario the matches vs each other count and there even away goals are the tiebreaker for Nigeria with and 1-0 and a 1-2 in Benin.

But if they play 2-1 for Nigeria, it will be the fair play ranking between both and wirh a 3-2 or 4-3 for Nigeria it is the first time Benin will reach a World Cup.

 

All three teams are very bad, even if they make it they won't be doing anything next year.

 

As current form, I agree. Though, in theory, Nigeria could be the most decent of the three if they ever play up to their talent.

 

What seemed to be a secure spot at the World Cup finals for South Africa now suddenly looks much more difficult. First, they were handed a 3–0 defeat to Lesotho off the pitch, and now they’ve drawn 0–0 with Zimbabwe — who even had a player sent off. It’s really foolish to throw away such a safe qualification. They can still make it, but they’ll have to hope that Nigeria beat Benin. A draw could also be enough, but that will depend on goal difference. South Africa no longer have it in their own hands.

 

I saw on Dutch tv several people who had to watch Cabo Verde vs Lybia match, because it's their job, but werenot excited about the prospect of having to do it.
However all were very enthusiastic they watched it and enjoyed every single minute of it, because the match had everything you want in it.
It went from "it's that I get paid to watch, otherwise...to...Boy, I got paid to watch this"
So now I'm very tempted to watch it too

 

The Suriname vs Guatemala match just finished. Suriname managed to equalize in the end. Guatemala had the ball on surinames side of the field but a player tried to go for a very very Long shot. It got blocked and suriname got a corner which lead to the equalizer. Very bad play from Guatemala

 

Curaçao is poised to go to the top of their group with a 2-0 lead over Jamaica after 80 minutes.

 

The 2nd placed team in this group is almost guaranteed to make the playoffs given how easy the bottom 2 teams in this group are, and how tight the other groups are.

 

i won't bet on curacao not losing against Trinidad and Tobago at home.

Seems that Groups B and C have 1 week team with Bermuda and Nicaragua that delivers points for the runners-up to advance.

Group A is pretty even and that might cost the runner-up.

 

The Indonesian challenge is over.

Iraq 1 Indonesia 0

If they continue to develop I think 2030 should be achieved, they are probably still one of the .most improved teams of 2025.

 

They need to fire Kluivert.