International updates: Palacios and Co. qualify for World Cup – Schick scores again

+++ 26.03.: Argentina qualify for World Cup finals with big win against Brazil +++

Exequiel Palacios and his Argentinian teammates had two reasons to celebrate: An emphatic 4-1 victory over Brazil in the big game in South America means the World Cup winners are the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Albiceleste were already 3-1 up at half-time and the final goal was scored on 70 minutes. Palacios came off the bench on 82 minutes.

+++ 26.03.: Hincapie and Co. still on course for World Cup finals +++

After the 2-1 home win for Ecuador again Venezuela, Piero Hincapie played the full game in a goalless draw with bottom-of-the-table Chile to secure another point. With four games to play in the South American World Cup qualifiers, the lead of the team in second place to a position that would not qualify for the World Cup is currently eight points.

+++ 26.03.: Morocco clock up fifth win in five games +++

The 2-1 victory away to Niger has been followed by a 2-0 home win for Morocco against Tanzania and they now deservedly lead the table with five wins from five games. The two goals were scored shortly after half-time with Werkself player Amine Adli coming on as a substitute on 86 minutes.

+++ 25.03.: Kovar and Schick start and win +++

Czechia have yet to drop a point in the World Cup qualifiers. They dominated the away game against Gibraltar three days after the 2-1 home win against the Faroe Islands. Playing in Faro in Portugal, the favourites led 1-0 at half-time – with Patrik Schick and keeper Matej Kovar in the starting X1 – with the Werkself striker doubling the lead shortly at the start of the second 45. In the closing stages, after Schick went off, Czechia scored another two goals for the final score of 4-0. The other group opponents are Montenegro and Croatia.

+++ 25.03.: Nigeria drop points in World Cup qualifiers +++

Victor Boniface and Nigeria were only able to draw 1-1 at home to Zimbabwe. In their sixth game in the African World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles could have moved up to second place in Group C with a win against the team bottom of the table but that was frustrated with a goal conceded on 90 minutes. Boniface came on on 87 minutes. With three games to play, Nigeria will be looking for other results to go right as qualification for the 2026 World Cup is no longer in their own hands.

+++ 24.03.: Finland draw despite two-goal lead +++

Following the 1-0 win against Malta in the first World Cup qualifier, Finland with the Werkself captain Lukas Hradecky in goal were only able to draw with Lithuania. The Eagle Owls led 2-0 away from home, including a penalty scored by former Werkself player Joel Pohjanpalo, but ended up conceding two goals.

+++ 23.03.: Spain beat Netherlands on penalties +++

The quarter-final between Spain and the Netherlands also developed into a thrilling encounter. Following the 2-2 draw in the first leg three days ago, the score after 90 minutes in the second leg in Valencia was 2-2. As both teams scored once in extra time, a penalty shoot-out would decide who progressed to the semi-finals. Aleix Garcia, who came off the bench on 106 minutes, scored his penalty for Spain. Alejandro Grimaldo did not feature. Jeremie Frimpong played the full game for the Netherlands but did not score in the penalty shoot-out. The European champions came through and will now face France in Stuttgart in the last four tie on Thursday, 5 June (kick-off: 20:45 CEST).

+++ 23.03.: Draw puts Germany in semi-finals+++

Three days after the 2-1 win against Italy in the quarter-final first leg in the UEFA Nations League, a 3-3 draw in Dortmund was enough for Germany to progress to the semi-finals. With Jonathan Tah in the starting line-up, Germany produced a brilliant first-half display and led 3-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst. After the restart, Italy scored twice to make it 3-2 on 69 minutes. Robert Andrich came on as a substitute on 77 minutes. Italy levelled at 3-3 with a penalty in added time (90+5') but that was not enough to take the game to extra time.

The result means Germany are the hosts for the games involving the final four teams in the summer. Wednesday, 4 June (kick-off: 20:45 CEST) will see Germany play Portugal in Munich for a place in the final. The three opponents for Germany in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are also confirmed: Luxembourg, Northern Ireland and Slovakia.

+++ 22.03.: Kovar and Schick start in opening win +++

Another success at the start of World Cup qualifying: with goalkeeper Matej Kovar and striker Patrik Schick in the starting line-up, Czech Republic won 2-1 in their home match against Faroe Islands. Schick netted in each half on Saturday evening, scoring the winner just two minutes after the visitors' equaliser. Next for the Czechs is the away meeting against Gibraltar on Tuesday 25 March at 20:45 CET, which is being held in Faro, Portugal.

+++ 22.03.: Palacios and Co win in Uruguay +++

Exequiel Palacios also claimed three points with Argentina. In the early hours of Saturday, the Albiceleste won 1-0 in Uruguay thanks to a goal midway through the first half. Palacios came on in the 80th minute to help his team over the line. With 28 of a possible 39 points, Argentinia sit top of the overall table in South American World Cup qualifying, six points ahead of nearest challengers Ecuador.

Palacios and his compatriots will continue on Tuesday night with the ultimate clash at South American international level: in Buenos Aires they face Brazil, who are third in the table and seven points behind Argentina.

+++ 21.03.: Ecuador win without suspended Hincapie +++

Ecuador also picked up an important victory in South American World Cup qualifying, beating Venezuela 2-1 without the suspended Piero Hincapie. The result leaves them second in the standings with 22 points from 13 matches. They have a comfortable nine-point cushion from a place that wouldn't be enough for a place at the 2026 World Cup, with five matchdays to be played. The next of those takes place in the early hours of Wednesday (1:00 CET) away to bottom-of-the-table Chile.

+++ 21.03.: Opening win for Hradecky's Finns +++

A successful start to World Cup qualifying: Finnland, with goalkeeper and captain Lukas Hradecky, triumphed 1-0 against Malta. Ex-Werkself man Joel Pohjanpalo, who now plies his trade for Palermo in Italy, scored the only goal in the 38th minute. The second and final assignment of this international break for Jacob Friis' men is coming up on Monday 24 March at 20:45 CET in Lithuania, who lost 1-0 in Poland.

+++ 21.03.: Morocco win - Adli not involved +++

Morocco and Amine Adli were also successful in African World Cup qualifying. The away game against Niger, which was played in Morocco, ended in a 2-1 victory for the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists. Adli was an unused substitute. The North Africans remain top of Group E with the maximum 12 points and are ideally placed to qualify for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. They face closest pursuers Tanzania on Tuesday evening at 22:30 CET.

+++ 21.03.: Important win for Boniface and Co +++

Nigeria and Victor Boniface remain in the hunt for a place at the 2026 World Cup. The Super Eagles, for whom the Leverkusen forward didn't feature, won 2-0 in Rwanda thanks to a brace from Victor Osimhen. They're now a point behind Rwanda in fourth place in Group C of African World Cup qualifying. The gap to leaders South Africa is four points, and two to second-placed Benin. So with five matches left, it's still all to play for. Boniface and Co continue their campaign at home to basement boys Zimbabwe on Tuesday 25 March (17:00 CET).

+++ 20.03.: Tah starts, Andrich is a late sub +++

Germany travelled to Milan for their quarter-final first leg. With Jonathan Tah in the starting line-up, Germany went 1-0 down to Italy after nine minutes – the half-time scoreline was the same. Substitute Tim Kleindienst equalised just after the restart and Leon Goretzka turned the game around with 15 minutes to play when he scored to make it 2-1. Robert Andrich came on in the closing stages of the game and helped to maintain the narrow lead to the end with his teammates. The return match in this classic fixture is in Dortmund on Sunday, 23 March (kick-off: 20:45 CET).

The winners of this quarter-final tie will face Denmark or Portugal (first leg: 1-0 to Denmark) and are also the hosts for the finals involving four teams at the start of June. The two semi-finals are on 4 and 5 June, the third-place decider and the final on 8 June.

+++ 20.03.: Frimpong starts and provides assist +++

The Netherlands drew 2-2 with European champions Spain in their quarter-final first leg match in the UEFA Nations League. The Oranje, with Werkself player Jeremie Frimpong in the starting XI, went behind early in Rotterdam but levelled in the middle of the first half. In the second 45, the hosts drew level with a fast run down the right flank by Frimpong followed by a crossed assist at 2-1. While Frimpong played the full 90 minutes, Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia did not come off the bench for Spain. The return match is in Valencia on Sunday, 23 March (kick-off: 20:45 CET).

The winners of this quarter-final will play Croatia or France at the start of June. Croatia won 2-0 in the first leg of that tie.

THE INTERNATIONAL MATCHES AND RESULTS: