A dramatic night of European qualifying matches saw Spain, Scotland, and Austria officially secure their places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The qualifiers were marked by intense competition and nail-biting finishes.
Spain Dominates Group, Remains Undefeated
Spain qualified after a 2-2 draw against Turkey in Seville, concluding their qualifying campaign atop Group E without a single loss. Dani Olmo put Spain ahead early, but Turkey responded with goals from Deniz Gul and Salih Ozcan. Mikel Oyarzabal’s equalizer ensured La Furia Roja’s top spot, sending Turkey to the European play-offs.
Scotland Snatch Qualification in Thrilling Fashion
Scotland secured a dramatic qualification in a thrilling match against Denmark, turning a 2-2 scoreline into a 4-2 victory with two late goals. Denmark only needed a draw to qualify, but Scotland scored in the 93rd and 99th minutes. Goalscorers for Scotland included Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland, Kieran Tierney, and Kenny McLean. Rasmus Hojlund (penalty) and Patrick Dorgu scored for Denmark. The visitors were hampered by Rasmus Kristensen’s red card, contributing to their late collapse. This marks Scotland’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, while Denmark heads to the play-offs.
Austria Returns to World Cup After Long Absence
Austria clinched their spot in the 2026 World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Bosnia, securing first place in Group H. Bosnia took an early lead through Tabakovic, but Michael Gregoritsch equalized for Austria. This will be Austria’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. Bosnia finished second in the group and will compete in the European play-offs for another chance to qualify.
This decisive round of European qualifiers resulted in a historic return for Scotland and Austria, and confirmed Spain’s usual dominance on the road to the World Cup.
