Northern Ireland, the Czech Republic and the Dutch all rounded off their campaigns with decisive results as attention now turns to next year's play-offs.
Germany Hit Slovakia for Six to March into Another Finals
Germany confirmed their 19th consecutive World Cup appearance with a commanding 6-0 victory over play-off-bound Slovakia, highlighted by Leroy Sane's first international brace since 2021.
Slovakia, already assured of a play-off place, were unable to replicate their shock 2-0 win from the opening round. Germany started with intent and struck first when Nick Woltemade headed in a Joshua Kimmich cross after 18 minutes. Serge Gnabry soon added a second after combining neatly with Leon Goretzka.
Germany pressed relentlessly, and Sane rewarded Julian Nagelsmann's faith with two goals before the break, first sliding a finish beyond Martin Dubravka before smashing in a superb back-post effort created by Florian Wirtz.
Sane was denied a hat-trick early in the second half, but Germany continued to flow. Ridle Baku drove in a fifth inside the near post, and debutant Assan Ouedraogo swept home Sane's lay-off to equal Slovakia's joint-heaviest competitive defeat.
Germany can now prepare for North America with confidence, while Slovakia must quickly reset before their decisive play-off campaign.
Dutch Break Loose as Three-Goal Burst Secures World Cup Return
The Netherlands booked their place at the 2026 finals with a ruthless second-half surge to beat Lithuania 4-0 in Amsterdam.
Frenkie de Jong sparked the opener after pouncing on a loose ball and threading in Tijjani Reijnders, who clipped a brilliant finish into the far top corner. Despite Dutch dominance, Lithuania survived until half-time with Edvinas Gertmonas making several key stops.
The resistance finally broke when VAR awarded a penalty for handball, allowing Cody Gakpo to slot in the second. Within minutes, Gakpo set up Xavi Simons, who shimmied through the defence to score. Donyell Malen then completed a five-minute blitz with a superb solo strike.
Lithuania, winless throughout the qualifiers, were unable to muster a response. The Dutch, however, celebrated consecutive World Cup qualifications after missing out in 2018.
Donley Delivers as Northern Ireland Edge Luxembourg
Northern Ireland ended their qualification campaign with a nervous 1-0 victory over Luxembourg thanks to Jamie Donley's VAR-awarded first-half penalty.
Early chances fell to Isaac Price and Jamal Lewis before Donley had a finish ruled out for offside. Luxembourg, who had scored in only one of their previous seven matches, nearly stunned the hosts when Christopher Martins broke through, only to be denied by Conor Hazard.
Luxembourg grew into the game and threatened through Mathias Olesen and Olivier Thill, but Northern Ireland struck late in the half when VAR spotted Martins catching Ciaron Brown just inside the area. Donley calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Despite expectations of a more comfortable second half, Northern Ireland struggled to build momentum. Luxembourg battled bravely, with Thill and Danel Sinani going close, while Price forced a late save at the other end.
Northern Ireland finished third in their group and will enter the play-offs, while Luxembourg ended their campaign without a single point for the first time in two decades.
Zielinski Saves Poland as Late Strike Sinks Malta
Poland rescued a crucial 3-2 win in Malta to secure a World Cup play-off place, extending their perfect head-to-head record against the islanders to six victories.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring on 31 minutes with a precise header from Piotr Zielinski's free-kick. Malta responded superbly, equalising through Irvin Cardona after Bartlomiej Drągowski had saved Joseph Mbong's initial effort.
Poland reasserted control after the break, with Lewandowski turning provider for Pawel Wszolek to tap in his first international goal in ten years. A third seemed to follow when Karol Swiderski finished neatly, but VAR instead awarded Malta a penalty at the other end for a foul by Jakub Kiwior. Teddy Teuma converted confidently to level at 2-2.
Malta nearly stole it when Adam Magri Overend raced through, but Dragowski saved brilliantly. Poland finally prevailed when Zielinski's strike deflected in late on to seal a dramatic win.
Czechs Breeze Past Gibraltar in Six-Goal Display
The Czech Republic completed their qualifying campaign in style with a 6-0 demolition of Gibraltar, stretching their unbeaten home run to 16 matches.
David Doudera struck early before assisting Tomas Chory for the second. Vladimír Coufal added a crisp third, and the hosts powered in two more before the interval, Adam Karabec finishing neatly and Tomas Soucek heading in from Chorý's superb cross.
Robin Hranac made it six after the restart from Jaroslav Zeleny's knock-down. Although Patrik Schick struck the woodwork, the Czechs were content with a dominant performance as they head into March's play-offs after recording five wins in a World Cup qualifying cycle for the first time since 2006.
Vlasic Completes Croatia's Stunning Comeback in Podgorica
Croatia showed remarkable resolve to overcome a two-goal deficit and beat Montenegro 3-2, extending their unbeaten World Cup qualifying run to 17 games.
Montenegro struck twice early on, first through Milutin Osmajic after a defensive slip from Duje Caleta-Car, then via a superb low strike from Nikola Krstovic. Croatia responded before the break when VAR penalised Slobodan Rubezic for a strong challenge on Kristijan Jakic, allowing Ivan Perisic to convert on his 150th international appearance.
Croatia controlled the second half and drew level when Petar Musa's shot struck the post and Jakic followed in. Luka Modric entered for his 194th cap as Croatia pushed for the winner, which finally came three minutes from time when Nikola Vlasic smashed home from distance.
Zlatko Dalic praised his team's fighting spirit as Croatia concluded their campaign already assured of their place at next summer's tournament.
