Ghana qualifies for the 2026 World Cup after 1-0 win over Comoros

Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudus scores Ghana's decisive goal in the 47th minute in their game against Comoros in Accra on Sunday at Accra Sports Stadium.. (Screen grab from FIFA video on X)
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Updated 13 October 2025
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Ghana qualifies for the 2026 World Cup after 1-0 win over Comoros

  • Madagascar lost 4-1 at Mali, but still finished second among Africa's qualifiers
  • The other qualifiers from Africa are Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia

ACCRA: Ghana became the fifth African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday.
The 2010 quarterfinalist joins Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia at next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ghana needed a point against Comoros in its final game in Group I to be certain of qualifying for back-to-back World Cups and sealed its place with a 1-0 win at Accra Sports Stadium.
In the end it didn't even need that after second-placed Madagascar lost 4-1 at Mali.

 

Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudus scored the decisive goal in the 47th minute to ensure Ghana qualified in style.
Madagascar still finished second, but victory would have improved its chances of being one of the four best runners-up, which compete for a place in the playoffs.
The nine group winners automatically qualify for the World Cup. The four best runners-up play in a mini tournament of two semifinals and a final in November.
The winning team advances to FIFA's playoff tournament against opponents from Asia, CONCACAF, South America and Oceania.
Burkina Faso, second in Group A behind Egypt, rounded off its campaign with a 3-1 win against Ethiopia, with substitute Pierre Landry Kabore scoring a second-half hat trick.
Egypt had already qualified and picked up another win by beating Guinea-Bissau 1-0.
In Group E Niger beat Zambia 1-0 and finished second.


Mikel Oyarzabal stars as Spain remain perfect in World Cup qualifying, Belgium held

Updated 15 November 2025
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Mikel Oyarzabal stars as Spain remain perfect in World Cup qualifying, Belgium held

  • Luis de la Fuente’s side has scored 19 times while conceding zero goals in five group victories
  • The European champion are poised to wrap up a spot in the finals when they meet Turkiye on Tuesday in their last qualifier

BARCELONA, Spain: Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain maintained their perfect form in World Cup qualifying with a 4-0 win in Georgia on Saturday as they closed in on a berth at next year’s showpiece tournament.
Luis de la Fuente’s side has scored 19 times while conceding zero goals in five group victories.
The European champion are poised to wrap up a spot in the finals when they meet Turkiye on Tuesday in their last qualifier.
Spain lead Group E by three points over Turkiye, which beat Bulgaria 2-0 on Saturday.
The only way the Turks could pip Spain for the top spot and grab a direct ticket to the World Cup would be by winning in Seville by a huge margin.
A tiebreaker would be decided by goal difference. Spain is on +19, while Turkiye is on +5.
The home side didn’t miss injured stars Lamine Yamal, Pedri González or Rodri against the overmatched Georgia.
The Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal led Spain with his two goals and an assist. Martín Zubimendi and Ferran Torres also scored as their team were up 3-0 by halftime.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a penalty in the 11th minute and headed in the fourth goal in the 63rd. Marcos Llorente cleared a late Georgia shot from the goal-line to protect Spain’s run of clean sheets.
Belgium must wait
Belgium were held to a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan and missed a chance to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Rudi Garcia’s side can still advance with a win over Liechtenstein on Tuesday in their final qualifier.
Belgium lead Group J with two points more than North Macedonia.
The draw in Astana guaranteed the Belgians will finish in the top two. The 12 group winners from European qualification go directly to the World Cup. The continent’s remaining four berths are decided by a playoff of the dozen runners-up.
Kazakhstan took a ninth-minute lead through 17-year-old Dastan Satpayev. Hans Vanaken leveled for Belgium in the 48th when the Club Brugge midfielder headed in a cross by Timothy Castagne.
But Belgium, which had routed Kazahkstan 6-0 in September, were unable to take advantage of playing with an extra man from the 79th minute after Islam Chesnokov was red carded for a hard challenge on Jeremy Doku.