European qualifying Group G leaders the Netherlands travelled to second-placed Poland in their quest for a place at the 2026 World Cup on Friday.
Poland were unbeaten in four matches under new manager Jan Urban but started three points behind their opponents with a significant goal inferiority.
Catch up with the reports, results and goals from Poland vs Netherlands, Croatia vs Faroe Islands, Finland vs Malta and Gibraltar vs Montenegro in Friday’s World Cup 2026 qualifying internationals.
You can also read what happened in Luxembourg vs Germany and Slovakia vs Northern Ireland.
Poland vs Netherlands: Oranje on brink of World Cup
The Netherlands are all-but mathematically through to the finals regardless of the result in their closing match at home to Lithuania on Monday after Memphis Depay’s 47th-minute close-range strike earned Oranje a 1-1 draw.
Poland’s Nicola Zalewski spurned a presentable early chance before winger Jakub Kaminski scored a scintillating opener, charging almost the length of the pitch via a one-two with Robert Lewandowski before beating goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from just outside the box.
Depay capitalised after goalkeeper Kamil Grabara misjudged Cody Gakpo’s cross and diverted Donyell Malen’s header into the forward’s path.
Poland will finish second and enter the play-offs after their visit to Malta on Monday.
Poland starting XI: Kamil Grabara, Matty Cash, Tomasz Kedziora, Jan Ziolkowski, Robert Lewandowski, Piotr Zielinski, Jakub Kaminski, Jakub Kiwior, Michal Skoras, Sebastian Szymanski, Nicola Zalewski
Poland substitutes: Mateusz Kochalski, Bartlomiej Drągowski, Kryspin Szczesniak, Filip Rozga, Karol Swiderski, Bartosz Kapustka, Kamil Grosicki, Pawel Wszolek, Adam Buksa, Kacper Kozlowski, Bartosz Bereszynski
Netherlands starting XI: Bart Verbruggen, Lutsharel Geertruida, Jurrien Timber, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Micky van de Ven, Donyell Malen, Justin Kluivert, Frenkie de Jong, Robin Roefs
Netherlands substitutes: Mark Flekken, Nathan Ake, Matthijs De Ligt, Xavi Simons, Emmanuel Emegha, Jan Paul van Hecke, Tijjani Reijnders, Jerdy Schouten, Noa Lang, Quinten Timber, Luciano Valente
Croatia vs Faroe Islands: Hosts reach World Cup
Croatia are through to the finals as group winners after coming from behind to win 3-1 at home to the Faroe Islands, who took a surprise 16th-minute lead through Geza David Turi’s deflected shot.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol curled in a low equaliser from inside the box in the 23rd minute and Dallas striker Petar Musa fired in from close range to turn the scoreline around 12 minutes after the break.
Torino midfielder Nikola Vlasic added a third for Croatia, who play their final group game in Montenegro on Monday, from Luka Modric’s cross with 20 minutes remaining.
The Faroe Islands will finish third and be eliminated, with Czechia finishing second to reach the play-offs from the group.
Croatia starting XI: Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol, Marco Pasalic, Luka Modric, Mario Pasalic, Ivan Perisic, Petar Sucic, Petar Musa, Andrej Kramaric
Croatia substitutes: Marin Pongracic, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Sutalo, Nikola Moro, Ivor Pandur, Nikola Vlasic, Mislav Orsic, Kristijan Jakic, Toni Fruk, Franjo Ivanovic, Igor Matanovic, Ivica Ivusic
Faroe Islands starting XI: Mattias Lamhauge, Rene Joensen, Odmar Faero, Gunnar Vatnhamar, Andrias Edmundsson, Viljormur Davidsen, Arni Frederiksberg, Geza Turi, Jakup Andreasen, Hanus Sorensen, Meinhard Olsen
Faroe Islands substitutes: Asi Dam, Arnbjorn Svensson, Joannes Bjartalid,, Gullbrandur Oregaard, Pall Klettskard, Bjarti Mork, Martin Agnarsson, Joan Edmundsson, Adrian Justinussen, Petur Knudsen, Jann Benjaminsen, Bardur a Reynatrod
Finland vs Malta: Minnows earn shock win
Finland’s elimination was confirmed with a 1-0 home defeat in their final game against a Malta side 94 places below them in the world rankings.
Midfielder Jake Grech struck the 82nd-minute winner from just inside the box to give the visitors, who will finish fourth, their first win in the group.
Malta host Poland on Monday.
Finland starting XI: Viljami Sinisalo, Ryan Mahuta, Ville Koski, Miro Tenho, Juho Lahteenmaki, Benjamin Kallman, Adam Markhiev, Kaan Kairinen, Leo Walta, Oliver Antman, Joel Pohjanpalo
Finland substitutes: Lukas Hradecky, Jussi Niska, Robert Ivanov, Robin Lod, Naatan Skytta, Teemu Pukki, Oiva Jukkola, Anssi Suhonen, Topi Keskinen, Niklas Pyyhtia, Lucas Bergstrom
Malta starting XI: Henry Bonello, Zach Muscat, Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe, Juan Corbalan, Joseph Mbong, Matthew Guillaumier, Paul Mbong, Alexander Satariano, Ilyas Chouaref, Irvin Cardona
Malta substitutes: Jean Borg, Adam Magri Overend, James Carragher, Jake Grech, Brandon Paiber, Matthias Debono, Gabriel Mentz, Myles Beerman, Rashed Al-Tumi, Andrea Zammit, Yannick Yankam, Trent Buhagiar
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Gibraltar vs Montenegro: Visitors come back to win
Gibraltar finished their campaign without a point after losing 2-1 at home to Montenegro, who will finish fourth.
Chesterfield’s Liam Jessop slotted in the 20th-minute opener for Gibraltar, but Vasilije Adzic curled in a low free-kick 13 minutes later and Nikola Krstovic’s 42nd-minute penalty completed the scoring.
Gibraltar visit Czechia on Monday.
Gibraltar starting XI: Jaylan Hankins, Ethan Jolley, Kian Ronan, Bernardo Lopes, Liam Jessop, Graeme Torrilla, Louie Annesley, Kai Mauro, Nicholas Pozo, Dylan Borge, James Scanlon
Gibraltar substitutes: Bradley Banda, Jaiden Bartolo, Julian del Rio, Kelvin Morgan, Carlos Richards, Christian Lopez, Dan Bent, Jeremy Perera, Jayce Olivero, Paddy McClafferty, Jaron Vinet, Aymen Mouelhi
Montenegro starting XI: Igor Nikic, Adam Marusic, Marko Tuci, Nikola Sipcic, Risto Radunovic, Marko Jankovic, Vasilije Adzic, Andrija Bulatovic, Milan Vukotic, Milutin Osmajic, Nikola Krstovic
Montenegro substitutes: Balsa Popovic, Stefan Milic, Marko Simun, Slobodan Rubezic, Marko Vesovic, Danijel Petkovic, Milos Brnovic, Marko Perovic, Viktor Djukanovic, Andrej Kostic, Stefan Loncar, Driton Camaj
2026 World Cup playoffs dates
The top team from each of the 12 European Qualifier groups proceeds automatically to the finals, which will be expanded to 48 teams.
The 12 runners-up in each group will join four Nations League teams in the two-legged play-off ties, which will be drawn from pots based on teams’ records during the campaign and take place on March 26 and 31 2026.
When is the draw for the 2026 World Cup finals?
The draw for the World Cup finals will take place on December 5 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with the ceremony starting at 17:00 GMT (12:00 ET/ 09:00 PT).
The tournament runs from June 11 until July 19 2026.
