Submit your Article

The Netherlands confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable home victory over Lithuania, BBC reported.

The unbeaten Dutch were as good as there anyway, going into the final day three points above Poland with a superior goal difference of 13.

All four of the Netherlands' goalscorers were Premier League players - the first time that has happened in a game.

Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders lashed them into a 16th-minute lead, according to BBC.

Germany secured a place at next year's World Cup by crushing Slovakia 6-0 in their final qualifier on Monday, pummeling them into submission with four goals in the first half, and sending their opponents into a playoff in March, Reuters reported.

The four-time world champions, who crashed out in the first round of the last two editions of the World Cup, finished top of their group on 15 points, with the Slovaks second on 12.

The Czech Republic dismantled Gibraltar in their final World Cup qualifier on Monday, cruising to a 6-0 win and a second-place finish in Group L that brings a playoff spot for next year's tournament in Mexico, Canada and the U.S, Reuters reported. 

The hosts notched five first-half goals with David Doudera scoring in the fifth minute when his first-time effort from Tomas Chory's pass found the bottom right corner.

Chory, Vladimir Coufal, Adam Karabec and captain Tomas Soucek also netted in a dominant opening period, according to Reuters.

Poland's Piotr Zielinski struck late to earn a 3-2 victory away to Malta on Monday but it was not enough to claim top spot in their World Cup qualifying group and they had to settle for a place in the playoffs for next year's finals, Reuters reported.

Poland’s win at Ta'Qali's National Stadium lifted them to 17 points in Group G, the second-place finish bringing a chance to book a ticket to North America via the playoffs in March.

The Netherlands claimed direct qualification as they finished top with 20 points after thrashing visiting Lithuania 4-0. Malta finished fourth with five points, according to Reuters.