World Cup
Brazil, Ecuador qualify for 2026 World Cup finals
Brazil and Ecuador secured their spots at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, taking the second and third of South America’s six automatic qualifying berths after champions Argentina booked their ticket in March.
Brazil beat Paraguay 1-0 while Ecuador drew 0-0 with Peru as both teams climbed to 25 points with two matches to play, beyond the reach of Venezuela in seventh place.
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Uruguay (24 points), Paraguay (24) and Colombia (22) occupy the remaining three automatic qualification positions ahead of the final two fixtures in September.
Venezuela (18) would earn a playoff spot against a team from another confederation by finishing seventh.
In Sao Paulo, a goal from Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Jr. on the stroke of halftime made it a winning home debut for Brazil’s new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“I’m very happy with today’s result. We needed to win at home for our fans too and qualify for the World Cup, which was our goal,” Vinicius said.
“Now (Ancelotti) will have more time to work, to see what he can improve. Today wasn’t one of our best games, but the important thing in qualifying is to win and prepare well for the World Cup.”
Brazil extended their record as the only team to play in every edition of the World Cup, with the five-times winners set to make their 23rd appearance in next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ecuador qualified for their second straight World Cup by avoiding defeat in Peru. The visitors were penned in their own half for the final 20 minutes after midfielder Alan Franco was shown a second yellow card.
The draw all but ended Peru’s hopes of qualifying, leaving them with 12 points, six behind Venezuela.
Earlier on Tuesday, Uruguay took a step closer to securing a spot with a 2-0 home victory over Venezuela at the Estadio Centenario, a victory which also snapped a four-match winless run in South American qualifiers.
Uruguay dominated much of the first half but struggled to break down a well-organised Venezuelan defence until Rodrigo Aguirre put the hosts ahead in the 42nd minute, heading in at the far post from a Maxi Araujo corner.
Giorgian De Arrascaeta doubled Uruguay’s lead just two minutes into the second half, firing a superb shot into the top-left corner to seal a win that secures Marcelo Bielsa’s side of at least an inter-confederation playoff berth.
Uruguay need only one point from their final two matches against Peru and Chile to make sure of a place at the finals.
Argentina needed an 81st-minute equaliser from Thiago Almada to cancel out Luis Diaz’s goal and secure a draw with Colombia, avoiding a second straight defeat to Nestor Lorenzo’s side.
Chile’s hopes of reaching the finals ended with a 2-0 loss in Bolivia. Chile coach Ricardo Gareca resigned after the match.
-Reuters
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Algeria sealed qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ after a commanding victory over Somalia, while Uganda boosted their playoff hopes with a crucial win against Botswana.
The Desert Warriors became the latest African side to book their place in North America, maintaining an unassailable lead at the top of Group G.
Uganda, meanwhile, strengthened their grip on second place, moving three points clear of Mozambique, whose defeat to Guinea effectively ended their qualification bid.
In Group H, Liberia revived their hopes of reaching the continental play-offs after beating Namibia, while Kenya claimed a morale-boosting win over Burundi in Group F.
Group G: Algeria cruise past Somalia to seal World Cup return
Somalia 0–3 Algeria
Scorers: Amoura (6′, 58′), Mahrez (19′)
Algeria confirmed their return to the world stage with a 3–0 win over Somalia in Oran.
Mohamed Amoura opened the scoring early on, volleying home from Riyad Mahrez’s cross. The captain then turned scorer, rifling in a bouncing ball to double the lead.
Mahrez later turned provider again, delivering another precise cross for Amoura to head home his second.
The victory marks Algeria’s fifth World Cup qualification and their first since 2014, when they reached the Round of 16 before losing narrowly to eventual champions Germany.
Group G: Uganda tighten grip on second place
Botswana 0–1 Uganda
Scorer: Ssemugabi (54′)
Jude Ssemugabi’s header early in the second half proved decisive as Uganda earned a vital win over Botswana to consolidate second place in the group.
The Cranes dominated possession and created the better chances, with Rogers Mato forcing a fine save in the first half.
Ssemugabi’s close-range finish was enough to seal victory, despite late pressure from the hosts.
Uganda now need just a draw in their final match against already-qualified Algeria to secure a top-two finish — and a potential spot among the four best runners-up heading into the playoffs.
Group G: Mozambique slip up as Guinea exit
Mozambique 1–2 Guinea
Scorers: Reinildo (19′) – Traore (2′, 59′)
Mozambique’s qualification hopes suffered a major blow after a surprise home defeat to Guinea.
Abdoul Traore’s early header put the visitors ahead before Reinildo levelled for Mozambique with a powerful finish from Geny Catamo’s cross.
However, Traore restored Guinea’s lead in the second half with a fierce strike that slipped through goalkeeper Ernan Siluane’s hands.
Despite the win, Guinea’s campaign came to an end as they were mathematically eliminated, along with Botswana.
Group H: Liberia stun Namibia to stay alive
Liberia 3–1 Namibia
Scorers: Kosiah (pen 3′), Bah (9′), Ledlum (81′) – Ndeunyema (86′)
Liberia kept their playoff hopes alive with an emphatic victory over Namibia, closing the gap on the second-placed Brave Warriors to just one point.
The hosts made a dream start when Ayouba Kosiah converted an early penalty before Sulahmana Bah added a second after rounding the goalkeeper.
Substitute Edward Ledlum sealed the win late on with a curling effort from the edge of the area. David Ndeunyema scored a consolation goal for Namibia in the final minutes.
Group F: Kenya edge Burundi in fiery contest
Burundi 0–1 Kenya
Scorer: Ogam (73′)
Ten-man Burundi fell to a narrow defeat against Kenya in a hard-fought encounter.
Burundi’s Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana was sent off after just two minutes for a reckless challenge on Kenyan goalkeeper Brian Bwire, who had to be stretchered off.
Substitute keeper Byrne Odhiambo impressed, making several key saves to preserve Kenya’s clean sheet.
The decisive moment came when Ryan Ogam, introduced midway through the second half, curled home a stunning long-range effort to secure the win.
Cafonline
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Africa’s top footballers of the past two years, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, will spearhead Nigeria’s quest for a vital victory when the Super Eagles face the Crocodiles of Lesotho in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening.
The encounter is the penultimate matchday in the qualification series, and Nigeria are in must-win mode as they look to stay within reach of group leaders Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa.
Currently three points adrift of the top two, the Super Eagles must secure all three points in Polokwane — a neutral ground fixture — and hope for favourable results elsewhere before rounding off their campaign at home to Benin Republic next week at Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Head Coach Eric Chelle faces a selection dilemma following a string of injuries to key players. Wing-back Olaoluwa Aina remains sidelined after sustaining a knock on the poor pitch of the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, during the clash with Bafana Bafana last month. Also unavailable are Bright Osayi-Samuel, Raphael Onyedika, and forward Cyriel Dessers, all ruled out through injury.
However, Chelle will be buoyed by the return of Victor Osimhen, who missed the South Africa tie due to a muscular strain picked up against Rwanda in Uyo. The Napoli striker rejoins the dynamic attacking trio completed by Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon, whose exploits at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year remain fresh in the minds of fans.
In goal, Stanley Nwabali is expected to retain his starting role after a series of solid displays, while team captain William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, and Benjamin Frederick are all in contention for defensive duties.
The midfield options offer Chelle both creativity and steel, with Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Christantus Uche vying for starting spots.
Up front, beyond the Osimhen-Lookman-Simon trio, the coach has several in-form alternatives including Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Terem Moffi, and Jerome Akor Adams, all of whom have been impressive for their clubs in recent weeks.
With Lesotho already out of contention, Nigeria are expected to dominate possession and press for an early breakthrough. The Super Eagles will also be keen to avoid the kind of dropped points that have haunted their campaign so far.
A win in Polokwane would lift Chelle’s side within striking distance of qualification and set up a high-stakes finale in Uyo.
21 SUPER EAGLES TO BATTLE LESOTHO IN POLOKWANE
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)
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Sudan Football Association vice president Yasser Nasreddin Hamza Al-Samani has been banned from their next 15 competitive matches for assaulting a match official at a World Cup qualifier last month, world football’s governing body FIFA said.
The incident came after Sudan had lost 1-0 in Lome to Togo, effectively ending their 2026 World Cup hopes.
Sudan’s assistant coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu, who is from Ghana, was also handed a three-match ban for what FIFA said was “unsporting behaviour towards a match officials”. The referees for the game on September 9 came from Madagascar.
Both men were also fined CHF5,000 ($6,214).
-Reuters
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