International Football
Spain are among five big national teams at risk of missing the 2022 World Cup
The World Cup qualifiers are in full swing in almost all the confederations -Africa, Europe and South America.
There’s still a long way to go until the 2022 finals in Qatar, with fans having to wait a few extra months for next year’s tournament due to it being held in the winter. That said, there are some big-name countries already at risk of missing out on qualification.
Having failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup but going on to win Euro 2020, Italy have shown that failure to reach the greatest show on earth isn’t always as bad as it first appears, but the following countries will nonetheless be desperate to avoid the humiliation of missing out.
Spain
It may be pain for Spain as the La Roja suffered their first World Cup qualifying defeat since 1993 on Thursday in Sweden, ending a 66-game streak, but that is just the latest of Luis Enrique‘s concerns.
The national team haven’t enjoyed the same success in his second spell as the promise they showed in his first might have hinted at, and there is a need to find a regular goalscorer who can deliver at international level.
Alvaro Morata has had his share of criticism since before Euro 2020, while other options have endured similar complications when handed a place in the XI.
Spain must now win all their matches and hope Sweden slip up in order to have a chance of taking first place in their group, but even winning all their remaining games could be a tough task.
Colombia
Almost at the mid-way point of South American qualification, Colombia are in a position that they’d rather not find themselves in, sitting fifth and out of the automatic qualification places.
Currently occupying the spot that would take them into an inter-confederation play-off, Colombia are level on points with Uruguay ahead of them, but just two ahead of Paraguay behind them.
Controversy surrounding the national team and James Rodriguez from before the summer’s Copa America hasn’t helped things.
Netherlands
The European qualifiers are still at their early stages, but the Netherlands have found a lot of stiff competition in Group G.
Currently second on seven points – level with Montenegro and Norway – the Dutch trail leaders Turkey, following their underwhelming European Championship performance.
Ronald Koeman‘s time in charge is just a memory now. They haven’t hit those same heights since he left his job.
Chile
Another South American side who find themselves in trouble. Chile are seventh from 10 sides in qualification and don’t look as though they’ll make it, despite there being time for them to make up ground.
Having enjoyed success in recent Copa Americas and having been an exciting side at a couple of World Cups, their participation in Qatar is very much at risk.
Japan
Japan are a side who should be at every World Cup and they always offer a lot to the tournament.
Just one matchday into Group B of the third round of qualification in Asia, though, they are pointless behind Australia, Saudi Arabia and Oman, who all won their opening games.
There is plenty of time left, but Japan have started in the worst possible way by losing to Oman. The top two teams make the World Cup, with the third team advancing to a fourth round.
-Marca
Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
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Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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