As the deadline for FIFA World Cup qualification approaches, the November international break provided plenty of excitement as numerous national teams either booked their tickets for the 2026 finals, kept their hopes alive by reaching the playoffs, or faced disappointing exits.
With everything on the line for next year’s tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the break brought about a wealth of qualifying drama—small nations making their World Cup debuts, last-minute goals changing the outcomes of matches, and a notable number of prominent teams falling short.
While the international football calendar can sometimes feel tedious for players and fans waiting for club matches to resume, last week’s events showcased the emotional rollercoaster of the sport, where nations experienced both elation and despair.
Below is a recap of some of the most captivating stories from an unforgettable week in World Cup qualifying history.
– 2026 World Cup: Curaçao makes history, Panamá and Haiti qualify
– World Cup squads ranked: All 64 teams that could still win next summer
– McTominay joins best overhead kicks ever: Rooney, Ronaldo, and more
Ranked 88th in the world by FIFA, Haiti defied expectations by qualifying for a World Cup for only the second time in history—first since 1974—after defeating Nicaragua 2-0.
Le Rouge et Bleu entered the match trailing Honduras on goal difference in Group C of Concacaf’s qualification but secured victory with first-half goals from Louicius Deedson and Ruben Providence. Meanwhile, Honduras ended up in a 0-0 draw in Costa Rica.
This victory marked Haiti’s first World Cup appearance in 50 years, remarkable particularly given that the team has had to play on neutral ground in Curaçao due to ongoing conflicts in their home country.
Interestingly, Haiti’s coach Sebastien Migne, who was appointed 18 months ago, has yet to visit the country but will lead the team at the finals hoping to improve on their previous World Cup performance which ended with three losses and 14 goals conceded.
Curaçao supporters joined in the celebrations as their team also achieved the remarkable feat of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. They secured their spot by managing to hold Jamaica to a 0-0 draw, a result that ensured their top position in Group B.
In a nail-biting finish to the Concacaf qualifiers, Curaçao withstood a stoppage-time penalty call to earn the point needed to surpass the Reggae Boyz, joining Haiti and Panama from their region, while Jamaica and Suriname move into the interconfederation playoffs.
Coached by Dutch veteran Dick Advocaat, the island nation—just 170 square miles in size—has become the smallest country to qualify for the World Cup, with a population under 156,000, significantly less than Iceland’s record 350,000.
Unfortunately, Advocaat missed the Jamaica match due to a family emergency, but if he remains in charge for the finals, he would become the oldest manager to lead a team in World Cup history, surpassing the current record held by Otto Rehhagel.
In a historic night for Scottish football, Scott McTominay and his teammates overwhelmed Denmark with a thrilling 4-2 victory, securing Scotland’s World Cup spot for the first time since 1998.
McTominay, a midfielder for Napoli, opened the scoring early with a stunning overhead kick that was impressive enough, but the night’s highlight came from midfielder Kenny McLean, who scored Scotland’s second goal from the halfway line during stoppage time, shortly after Kieran Tierney put the team ahead.
Fans erupted in celebration at Hampden Park as Steve Clarke’s side ended three decades of near misses in one exhilarating match.
The Republic of Ireland found themselves in a precarious position at the beginning of the November international break, teetering on the edge of World Cup elimination.
However, in a remarkable turnaround over 72 hours, striker Troy Parrott scored five goals across two matches, leading Ireland to crucial victories against Portugal and Hungary to save their qualification dreams.
On Thursday, the AZ Alkmaar striker netted both goals in a 2-0 triumph over Portugal in Dublin, disrupting Cristiano Ronaldo‘s campaign while setting up Ireland’s playoff chance against Hungary.
In Hungary, under pressure for a must-win scenario, Parrott scored a hat trick in a breathtaking 3-2 comeback victory, capping off the match with a dramatic 96th-minute goal that left the majority of the Puskás Arena in stunned silence.
Ireland’s next playoff opponents will be either Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, or Wales. If successful, they would return to the World Cup for the first time since the 1994 tournament in the U.S., where they reached the round of 16, aided by a memorable victory over Italy.
In a moment of intense celebration, DR Congo triumphed, eliminating former World Cup regulars Nigeria during a tense penalty shootout in the CAF playoff final.
After a 1-1 draw through extra time, DR Congo substituted in specialist goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, who saved a crucial penalty shot from Semi Ajayi. This opened the path for captain Chancel Mbemba to convert the winning penalty, sending DR Congo to the interconfederation playoffs in March. If they progress from there, it would mark their first World Cup finals since 1974, when they, then known as Zaire, lost all three group matches.
The team passionately celebrated by racing to their fans at the Rabat stadium in Morocco, and the community in Kinshasa joyfully greeted their heroes upon their return home.
– What’s next for DRC’s Leopards after that thrilling victory over Nigeria?
Iraq kept their hopes for World Cup qualification alive in extraordinary fashion with a 107th-minute winner in the second leg of their AFC fifth-round qualifier against the United Arab Emirates.
After drawing the first leg 1-1, Iraq found themselves trailing at home but staged a comeback to level the score in the second half.
In a dramatic twist, Amir Al-Ammari converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, securing Iraq’s place in the intercontinental playoffs and a shot at their first World Cup since 1986.
First-time Qualifiers
The teams entering the playoffs in March are eager to join a group of inaugural World Cup qualifiers, as several newcomers have emerged over the last few weeks. Alongside Curaçao, other debutants such as Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan have also secured their spots at football’s grandest stage.
It is also notable that Qatar has enjoyed their inaugural qualification campaign this time, having automatically qualified for the 2022 finals as hosts.