International blog: Morocco with Ben Seghir seal World Cup qualification - Grimaldo and Garcia provide assists

+++ 15.10.: USA win second friendly against Australia +++

The USA played their second friendly of the international break on Tuesday night. After a 1-1 draw against Ecuador, with a Malik Tillman assist, they followed up with a 2-1 win against Australia. Tillman did not play this time.

+++ 14.10.: Spain with Grimaldo and Garcia secure another comfortable victory +++

The European champions remain on course for the World Cup. In Group E of the European World Cup qualifiers, leaders Spain faced Bulgaria, who are still pointless. With an emphatic 4-0 victory, La Furia Roja picked up their next three points and remain top of the table with four wins from four games and twelve points. Alejandro Grimaldo started in the win against Bulgaria and set up the goal to make it 2-0. Aleix Garcia came on as a sub on 63 minutes and he provided the assist for a Bulgarian own goal for a 3-0 lead.

+++ 14.10.: Morocco with Ben Seghir seal World Cup qualification +++

Morocco, already bound for the World Cup finals, faced bottom-placed Congo (1 point) in their final World Cup qualifier in Group E. Morocco completed their World Cup qualification campaign with a 1-0 win. Eliesse Ben Seghir played the first 45 minutes. They achieved a maximum haul of 24 points from eight games and a goal difference of plus 20 (22 to 2).

+++ 14.10.: Netherlands U21 win second friendly +++

After a 0-0 draw in the European Championship qualifiers, the Netherlands U21s followed up with a win in the friendly against Lithuania. Ernest Poku came off the bench on 72 minutes in the 2-0 victory and - with the captain's armband on - he helped secure the win.

+++ 14.10.: Maza plays in Algeria 2-1 win +++

Ibrahim Maza's Algeria, who have already qualified for the World Cup, played their tenth and final qualifier on Tuesday night. The North African side, who finished top of Group G, beat Uganda 2-1. Maza was in the starting XI and played for 83 minutes. Algeria finished the group on 25 points.

+++ 13.10.: Germany on course for the World Cup +++

Germany clocked up the next victory in Group A of the European World Cup qualifiers on Monday night. The team led by coach Julian Nagelsmann secured a 1-0 win against Northern Ireland, who were level on points before the game, with Robert Andrich coming off the bench on 87 minutes to help seal the win. Germany are currently top of the group with nine points, ahead of Slovakia who are level on points.

+++ 12.10.: Tapsoba and Burkina Faso consolidate second place +++

Edmond Tapsoba and Burkina Faso secured an important victory in the race for the 2026 World Cup finals on Sunday night. In the tenth and final qualifier, Burkina Faso won 3-1 against Ethiopia with Tapsoba in the starting line-up. The West African team finished second in Group A. The four best runners-up in the African World Cup qualifiers will play in a second round in November to determine an African participant for the World Cup play-off tournament in March 2026. In this tournament, with representatives from the other continents also taking part, two national teams will progress to the World Cup finals.

Thanks to their win against Ethiopia, Burkina Faso have a good chance of going through. However, Tapsoba and Co. will have to keep an eye on the goal difference in the ranking of second-placed teams with some of their competitors having played one less game.

+++ 12.10.: Netherlands remain unbeaten +++

The Netherlands played their sixth World Cup qualifier on Sunday night. The Oranje ran out clear 4-0 winners against Finland with Mark Flekken not making an appearance. With 16 points from five wins and a draw, the Oranje remain undefeated top of Group G

+++ 12.10.: Sarco and Argentina U20s through to World Cup semi-finals +++

The junior Albiceleste progressed to the semi-finals of the U20 World Cup in Chile on Sunday night. With Werkself player Alejo Sarco in the starting XI, Argentina took an early lead against Mexico, followed by a goal at the start of the second half for the final scoreline of 2-0. Sarco was substituted at half-time. The semi-final against Colombia, who beat Spain 3-2 in the quarter-finals, is on Wednesday night.

+++ 11.10.: Garcia comes on in Spain's next win +++

The European champions maintain their perfect record in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup: On Saturday evening, Spain did not show any weakness as they beat Georgia 2-0 at home in Elche. While Alejandro Grimaldo did not play, Aleix Garcia came off the bench on 81 minutes. Spain have picked up nine points and scored 11 goals without conceding in the three games in Group E. Spain's next opponents on Tuesday, 14 October (kick-off: 20:45 CEST in Valladolid), are Bulgaria, currently bottom of the group with no points.

+++ 11.10.: Tillman scores in USA draw with Ecuador +++

The USA played a friendly against Ecuador on Saturday night that ended all square at 1-1. Malik Tillman, who played the full game, set up the USA goal on 71 minutes for the final score of 1-1. The USA are next in action on Wednesday with a friendly against Australia.

+++ 10.10.: Germany clock up convincing win in World Cup qualifiers +++

A successful start to this international break for the Germany team coached by Julian Nagelsmann. In their third World Cup qualifier, Germany defeated neighbours Luxembourg 4-0, with goals from David Raum, Serge Gnabry and a brace from Joshua Kimmich. Robert Andrich did not play. Germany now lead Group A on six points and with a better goal difference than Northern Ireland, who are level on points. The next World Cup qualifier on Monday is a head-to-head encounter for the two nations. The match kicks off at 20:45 CEST.

+++ 10.10.: Poku starts in Euro qualifier +++

Ernest Poku and the Netherlands played their second qualifier for the 2027 U21 Euros on Friday night. Poku started and played 81 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dutch are currently in third place out of five in Group G behind Israel (second, three points) and Norway (first, three points). Next up for Poku and Co. is a friendly against Lithuania on Tuesday.

+++ 09.10.: Flekken's Netherlands take next step towards World Cup finals +++

The Netherlands retained top spot in Group G with a 4-0 victory over Malta in their fifth World Cup qualifier. Mark Flekken did not feature. The Oranje head the group on 13 points with a three-point lead over Poland. Finland are next up for Flekken and Co.

+++ 09.10.: Confidence boost for England ahead of World Cup qualifier +++

England played Wales in a friendly. The Three Lions won 3-0 with Jarell Quansah on the bench. England's sixth World Cup qualifier follows on Tuesday against Latvia. Quansah and Co. head Group K with 15 points from five games with a seven-point lead over Albania.

+++ 09.10.: Ben Seghir plays for Morocco in friendly victory +++

Eliesse Ben Seghir and Morocco beat Bahrain 1-0 in a friendly with Ben Seghir coming on as a substitute on 69 minutes. Morocco move on to their eighth World Cup qualifier. The North Africans are currently top of Group E with 21 points thanks to seven wins from their seven games so far.

+++ 09.10.: Maza and Co. qualify for World Cup finals +++

Algeria faced Somalia on Thursday night in game nine of ten in the African World Cup qualifiers and won 3-0. The North African team have secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Ibrahim Maza came off the bench on the hour mark to help secure the crucial three points. Algeria lead Group G with 22 points with one match remaining, followed by Uganda on 18 points. Maza and Co. play Uganda face in the final qualifier on Tuesday.

Congratulations, Ibo!

+++ 08.10.: Sarco top goalscorer at U20 World Cup +++

The tournament has been a great success for Alejo Sarco so far: The 19-year-old Bayer 04 forward is currently featuring for Argentina at the U20 World Cup in Chile. After three wins from the three group games, including three goals from Sarco, the Leverkusen player was also successful in the Round of 16 match against Nigeria on Wednesday evening. He put his team on the road to victory with an early opener. Click HERE for the article !

+++ 08.10.: Burkina Faso with Tapsoba clock up key win +++

This victory may represent a big step towards participation in the 2026 World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Burkina Faso and Werkself player Edmond Tapsoba defeated Sierra Leone 1-0 on Wednesday night in the penultimate group match of the African World Cup qualifiers. The Leverkusen defender, who played throughout, and his compatriots kept their direct rivals at bay and secured second place in the Group A table. Burkina Faso can no longer catch group leaders Egypt with one match remaining.

Tapsoba and Co. are currently third in the table of second-placed teams, which four more nations will qualify from. A win in their final group match against Ethiopia could see Burkina Faso secure their place at the World Cup, but they will have to keep an eye on goal difference with regard to their competitors - with some having played one less match - in the ranking of the second-placed teams. Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST on Sunday.