Group A
Might the unthinkable occur? Germany have by no means didn't qualify for the World Cup however the four-time champions can't afford slip-ups if they're to seal prime spot after dropping in opposition to Slovakia of their opening recreation. Julian Nagelsmann's facet lead Slovakia on aim distinction and must beat Luxembourg on Friday and see whether or not Northern Eire – assured a playoff after ending prime of their Nations League group – can do them any favours in Slovakia on the identical evening. Germany end in opposition to Slovakia in Leipzig on Monday in what might be a winner-takes-all showdown. Groups ending second go into the playoffs.
Group B
Switzerland will qualify on Saturday in the event that they obtain a greater consequence at house to Sweden than Kosovo safe in Slovenia. Switzerland's vastly superior aim distinction means they are going to be just about assured of a World Cup place in the event that they match Kosovo's consequence. But when Kosovo shut the three-point hole to the leaders, issues shall be excitingly poised for his or her closing recreation at house to Switzerland in Pristina on Tuesday. Sweden, enjoying beneath Graham Potter for the primary time, ought to make the playoffs by advantage of getting gained their Nations League group.
Group C
With Greece and Belarus eradicated, it's a straight struggle between Denmark and Scotland for automated qualification. Steve Clarke's facet head into the ultimate two matches trailing on aim distinction so will in all probability want at the least some extent in Athens on Saturday to have an opportunity of taking prime spot after they meet Denmark at Hampden Park on 18 November.
Group D
France have a playoff within the bag courtesy of the Nations League and can qualify in prime spot in the event that they beat Ukraine in Paris on Thursday. Even a draw would go away France set honest going into their closing recreation in Azerbaijan given they lead Ukraine by three factors and have a aim distinction superior by 5. An Iceland win in Baku on Thursday coupled with a France victory over Ukraine would transfer Iceland second on aim distinction earlier than they face Ukraine on Sunday in Warsaw. Azerbaijan's very slim hopes of sneaking right into a playoff require victories over Iceland and France and sufficiently enhancing their -9 aim distinction.
Group E
Spain, having gained their first 4 matches, are on the verge of qualification. In the event that they get a greater end in Georgia on Saturday than Turkey safe at house to Bulgaria they may assure prime spot, and matching Turkey's consequence would all however seal the deal given their aim distinction is best than Turkey's by 12. Turkey want some extent – or a slip by Georgia – to ensure a playoff. They end on Tuesday in Seville in opposition to Spain, who beat them 6-0 in September.
Group F
An injury-time equaliser by Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai in Lisbon final month has made Portugal wait a bit longer to e book their place. Two factors from video games within the Republic of Eire on Thursday and at house to Armenia on Sunday would assure prime spot. Hungary, who're second, one level forward of Eire, would safe a playoff on Thursday in the event that they win in Armenia and Eire lose to Portugal. In any other case the playoff spot could come all the way down to Hungary's recreation in opposition to Eire in Budapest on Sunday.
Group G
Poland's hopes of overhauling the Netherlands, who lead them by three factors with a vastly superior aim completely different, relaxation on beating Ronald Koeman's facet in Warsaw on Friday and hoping eradicated Lithuania can do them a favour in Amsterdam on Monday. The Netherlands drew at house to Poland in September however have in any other case gained most video games comfortably. Finland, who face Malta of their final match on Friday, have an outdoor probability of reaching the playoffs if Poland lose to the Netherlands and Malta.
Group H
Three groups are in rivalry to complete prime, though Austria know a win over Cyprus on Saturday mixed with second-placed Bosnia and Herzegovina dropping or drawing at house to third-placed Romania would affirm qualification. Bosnia, two factors behind Austria with a aim distinction inferior by eight, journey to Vienna on Tuesday. Romania, who want two wins to have an opportunity of prime spot, host San Marino that day. There's the intriguing chance that San Marino, Fifa's lowest-ranked nation, might e book a playoff spot after profitable their Nations League group, if Romania end second – a state of affairs that might depend on what number of objectives they rating of their closing match.
Group I
Norway lead Italy by three factors and nobody else can end within the prime two. A win for Norway at house to Estonia on Thursday would in impact safe qualification earlier than they journey to San Siro on Sunday as a result of the astonishing 29 objectives plundered by Erling Haaland and co from six matches have given the workforce a frankly ridiculous aim distinction of +26, 16 forward of Italy. Gennaro Gattuso's facet want most factors from their video games, which begin in Moldova on Thursday, and a Norway slip in opposition to Estonia to keep away from the playoff for which they seem destined as they attempt to qualify for a primary World Cup since 2014.
Group J
Belgium want one win from two video games to make certain of automated qualification and face a probably tough fixture in Kazakhstan on Saturday. If they don't handle it there, Rudi Garcia's facet ought to wrap up prime spot in opposition to Liechtenstein on Tuesday. Wales and North Macedonia have mathematical hope of overhauling Belgium however are realistically enjoying for second place. Wales are assured of a playoff because of the Nations League however should end as runners-up to keep away from being among the many backside seeds and having an away semi-final. Successful in Liechtenstein on Saturday and at house to North Macedonia on Tuesday would assure second for Wales. If Wales beat Liechtenstein by six or extra objectives a draw with North Macedonia, whose solely remaining recreation is in Cardiff, would suffice.
Group Ok
England final month turned the primary European nation to substantiate qualification for the Phrase Cup and Thomas Tuchel's facet can have an enormous say within the struggle for second place. Serbia path Albania by some extent and virtually definitely want a constructive consequence at Wembley on Thursday as a result of defeat coupled with an Albania win in Andorra would finish their playoff hopes. Albania, who've by no means certified for the World Cup however have reached the Euros finals twice, in 2016 and 2024, face England in Tirana of their closing match as Serbia entertain Latvia.
Group L
Croatia, semi-finalists on the previous two World Cups, want some extent at house to the Faroe Islands on Friday or in Montenegro on Monday to ensure their spot within the finals once more. They are often overhauled solely by the Czech Republic, who're three factors behind with one recreation remaining, at house to Gibraltar on Monday, however a aim distinction inferior by 15. The Faroe Islands, shock winners in opposition to the Czech Republic final month, will end second within the unlikely occasion that they obtain a greater consequence in opposition to Croatia than the Czech Republic safe in opposition to Gibraltar.
Playoffs
On the draw on 20 November the 12 group runners-up shall be joined by the 4 best-ranked Nations League part winners who didn't end within the prime two. As issues stand, that shall be Wales, Romania, Sweden and Northern Eire, though Moldova and San Marino might make it. The 16 groups shall be seeded and drawn into 4 playoff paths, with 4 groups in every. Playoff matches shall be performed in March in single-leg semi-finals adopted by single-leg finals to determine Europe's closing 4 World Cup qualifiers.
