Six more countries qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

London, Oct. 16: Six more countries have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. England is the first European country to do so and will be playing alongside the Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the high-profile football competition next year.

Kane qualifies England

England became the first country from Europe to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday but Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will have to wait after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer against Hungary.

England won 5-0 at Latvia, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice in the first half, to assure first place in its group with two matches to spare. The English, who will be appearing at an eighth straight World Cup, haven't conceded a goal in six matches in qualifying so far under German coach Thomas Tuchel.

"Sometimes we make it look easy," said Kane, who already has a total of 21 goals for England and Bayern Munich this season, "but these groups and games can be tough. ... We talk about high standards no matter who we play against to keep the momentum, and that showed."

Portugal looked set to join England in next year's tournament in North America after two goals from the 40-year-old Ronaldo established a 2-1 lead over Hungary in Lisbon. A win would have guaranteed Portugal a first-place finish but Dominik Szoboszlai made it 2-2 in the first minute of added-on time to leave second-place Hungary five points back with two games left.

Ronaldo at least left the match with another scoring record. He now has 41 goals in World Cup qualifiers, breaking a tie for 39 he had with Guatemala player Carlos Ruiz.

Italy, which has failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, guaranteed itself at least a place in the playoffs after beating Israel 3-0 in a match laced with tension, played amid a hefty police and military presence, and preceded by a pro-Palestinian march attended by an estimated 10,000 people.

The second-placed Azzurri moved three points behind Norway, which has a much healthier goal difference. Both teams have two matches left next month, including a game against each other in Italy in the final round of qualifiers.

Spain stayed top of its group, three points clear of Turkey, by beating Bulgaria 4-0 to maintain its 100% start to the qualifying campaign.

Turkey also won, 4-1 at home to Georgia, and at least looks set for the spot in the playoffs.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia qualify from Asia

Qatar and Saudi Arabia secured places at next year's World Cup on Tuesday after topping the two groups in the fourth round of Asian qualifying.

Qatar edged United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Doha and Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 with Iraq in Jeddah to become the seventh and eighth teams to qualify from Asia for the expanded 48-team World Cup.

The Qataris and Saudis had home advantage in the fourth stage.

It marks the first time that Qatar, which lost all three group-stage games when it hosted the 2022 tournament, has advanced through qualification. Saudi Arabia, selected to host the 2034 World Cup, will appear for a seventh time next summer in the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"It's one of the best days in my career," Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui told the host broadcaster. "Today I think it is one big achievement we have to enjoy."

The victory put Qatar atop Group A, ahead of second-place UAE, which now moves on to a November playoff against Iraq. Oman was eliminated after finishing third in the group. The winner of the Asian playoff in November gets one more shot for a spot in the finals by advancing to intercontinental qualifying tournament.

Saudi Arabia, after beating Indonesia last Wednesday, got the draw it needed on home soil against Iraq to win Group B. The home team had most of the possession in a game of few chances but couldn't find a breakthrough. Iraq would have qualified for the first time since 1986 with a win.

Asia was allocated eight automatic places at the 2026 World Cup, and Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified from the third round in June.

South Africa, Ivory Coast and Senegal joins from Africa

South Africa is back at the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. Ivory Coast and Senegal will also be there as the latest teams from Africa to qualify.

South Africa secured a spot in North America after beating Rwanda 3-0 Tuesday to top its qualifying group, despite being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in earlier games.

South Africa's victory meant Nigeria finished second in the group and will have to qualify through a playoff, despite beating Benin 4-0 at home after a hat trick from star striker Victor Osimhen. Benin had led the group before the last round.

Ivory Coast also secured automatic qualification after a 3-0 win over a Kenya, one point ahead of Gabon. The Elephants had missed the last two tournaments.

Senegal reached its third straight World Cup after beating Mauritania 4-0 to qualify as winner of Group B, two points ahead of Congo. (AP)