France Clinches 2026 World Cup as Norway Closes In and Portugal Stumbles on Ronaldo Red

Overview

• France secured qualification with a 4-0 win over Ukraine in Paris, led by a Kylian Mbappé brace.
• Norway beat Estonia 4-1 to stay perfect and top Group I, while Italy’s 2-0 win in Moldova still leaves a 17-goal deficit in goal difference before their San Siro meeting.
• Portugal fell 2-0 to Ireland in Dublin, delaying automatic qualification after Cristiano Ronaldo received his first red card for the national team and earned a suspension for the Armenia match.
• Africa is staging single-match semifinals and a final in Rabat between Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and DR Congo to determine its intercontinental playoff entrant.
• Brazil, already qualified as a CONMEBOL representative, continues preparations under Carlo Ancelotti with friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia as the coach says his preferred lineup is largely defined.