A stunning bicycle kick and two stoppage-time goals sealed Scotland's dramatic return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait. Austria needed a late equalizer to also make it back to soccer's showcase event for the first time since 1998, while top-ranked Spain clinched their spot after equalling Italy's 31-match unbeaten record in competitive games in Europe.
Belgium and Switzerland also secured their places for the 2026 World Cup as the European qualifying finished on Tuesday. Five automatic spots were still available in Europe.
Scotland beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 in a winner-take-all match in Group C with Scott McTominay scoring a superb bicycle kick goal three minutes into the match, sending the crowd into raptures.
A 1-1 home draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina was enough for Austria to win Group H and return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait, while Belgium routed Liechtenstein 7-0. Switzerland qualified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.
The 12 group winners qualified directly, while the runners-up will participate in playoffs along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that did not finish first or second in their groups. The playoffs will be played on March 26 and March 31. The World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Switzerland drew with Kosovo to win Group B and secure their sixth straight World Cup appearance. They arrived in good position and could have guaranteed their spot even if they had lost by five goals. Kosovo, seeking their first World Cup appearance, had already secured second place. Sweden, who will be in the playoffs through the Nations League, drew 1-1 Slovenia.
Curaçao becomes smallest nation by population to qualify
The tiny Caribbean island country Curaçao will go to the 2026 World Cup as the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the marquee event in men's soccer. Curaçao, an autonomous territory of about 1,56,000 people within the Netherlands kingdom, takes the record of Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000, which was the previous smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for Russia 2018.
A team relying heavily on players born and raised in the Netherlands rode its luck Tuesday to take a 0-0 draw in Jamaica and finish top of a four-team group. Their other opponents were Trinidad and Tobago and last-place Bermuda.
Also read: Germany, Netherlands qualify for World Cup
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