Croatia also sealed their place at the finals with a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands, while Malta stunned Finland and Montenegro battled back to beat Gibraltar as several groups took decisive shape.
Germany turn pressure into progress
Germany moved to the brink of World Cup qualification after a 2-0 win away to Luxembourg, though the scoreline did not reflect the uneasy first half endured by Julian Nagelsmann's side.
Luxembourg created the better early chances, with Daniel Sinani testing Oliver Baumann twice and Aiman Dardari going close as Germany struggled to settle and lacked intensity. Germany reached half-time grateful to be level, having mustered just two shots on target compared to Luxembourg's four.
Four minutes after the break, the visitors finally broke through. Leroy Sane cut back from the right for Nick Woltemade, who slid in to open the scoring.
Luxembourg nearly equalised through Christopher Martins from point-blank range, but Germany punished the miss almost immediately. Ridle Baku's incisive pass found Woltemade, who swept home his second of the night and his third goal in only two internationals.
Germany extended their run to 24 unanswered goals against Luxembourg and can seal top spot in Group A with a win over Slovakia on Monday.
Netherlands steady after setback in Warsaw
The Netherlands edged closer to confirming qualification after a 1-1 draw in Poland, a result that leaves the Poles almost certain to face the play-offs due to their inferior goal difference.
Poland started strongly and should have led when Nicola Zalewski fired over from close range. The Dutch struggled to create chances and were punished just before the break when Robert Lewandowski held up a long pass and released Jakub Kaminski, who finished coolly.
Two minutes into the second half, Memphis Depay reacted quickest after Kamil Grabara saved Donyell Malen's header, smashing in his eighth goal of the qualifying campaign. Poland responded well, with Lewandowski shooting just over and Michal Skoras denied late on, but the Netherlands saw out the final minutes comfortably.
Ronald Koeman's team now only need to avoid an improbable collapse at home to Lithuania to secure their place at the finals.
Slovakia strike late to break Northern Irish resistance
Slovakia sealed a World Cup play-off spot with a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland thanks to Tomas Bobcek's stoppage-time finish.
The visitors created early chances through Isaac Price, Dan Ballard and Dion Charles, while David Strelec hit the post at the other end. Slovakia twice had goals disallowed early in the second half, first when Milan Skriniar was offside in the build-up to Lukas Haraslín's free-kick and then for a handball spotted by VAR as Strelec turned in another Haraslín effort, while Strelec also missed another clear opening.
Just as Northern Ireland appeared set to secure a vital clean sheet, Bobcek latched onto Laszlo Benes' corner and fired home in the first minute of eight added on. Ballard's late red card, his second yellow for a push on Stanislav Lobotka, added to Northern Ireland's frustration, though results elsewhere confirmed they also secured a play-off berth.
Slovakia can still top the group if they beat Germany in their final match.
Malta crush Finland's World Cup hopes
Malta earned their first victory of the qualifiers and ended Finland's fading hopes with a 1-0 win in Helsinki, inspired by a superb display from goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
Finland dominated the first half, with Joel Pohjanpalo, Benjamin Kallman and Oliver Antman all denied by Bonello. The second half followed the same pattern, as Adam Markhiyev, Leo Walta and Antman saw further efforts brilliantly saved.
But with eight minutes left, Malta struck. Substitute Jake Grech unleashed a stunning long-range effort that beat Viljami Sinisalo and secured Malta's first win of the 2026 cycle.
Finland's defeat ensures they will miss out on the World Cup, while Malta head into Monday's match against Poland with a chance to avoid finishing bottom.
Croatia qualify with comeback win
Croatia confirmed their place at next summer's World Cup with a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands.
The visitors shocked the home crowd when Geza Turi's strike deflected past Dominik Livakovic, and they nearly doubled the lead when Jakup Andreasen hit the post. But Josko Gvardiol hammered in a left-footed equaliser on 22 minutes to settle Croatia.
Luka Modric then dictated the match, forcing Mattias Lamhauge into several saves before the break. The pressure told early in the second half when Petar Musa controlled brilliantly and fired Croatia ahead. Ivan Perisic's pace created the third, crossing for Nikola Vlasic to volley home.
Croatia comfortably saw out the win, securing their place in North America.
Montenegro hit back to win away at last
Montenegro earned their first away win since March 2023 with a 2-1 fightback against Gibraltar.
Gibraltar struck first as Liam Jessop finished calmly from James Scanlon's through-ball for his maiden senior goal. Montenegro thought they had a penalty moments later, only for VAR to overturn the call, but they turned the match around before half-time.
Vasilije Adzic curled in a superb free-kick to equalise, and a foul on Marko Jankovic allowed Nikola Krstovic to score from the spot. Montenegro controlled the second half without adding a third, with Milutin Osmajic going closest.
Gibraltar remain without a single point in major tournament qualifying history, having now lost all 53 matches on record.
