The 2026 World Cup picture has grown clearer as October's qualifiers have seen several nations book their place. Full list of teams to qualify.

Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson was fired on Tuesday after overseeing a woeful World Cup qualifying campaign in which he failed to get the best out of a team filled with players from Europe's leading clubs.

South Africa's performance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is symbolic of the resilience that coach Hugo Broos has instilled in the team.

Italy defeated Israel 3-0 in a football World Cup qualifying group match on Tuesday in Udine, with pro-Palestinian protesters clashing with armed forces deployed to secure the game after weeks of tension over Rome’s stance on the war in Gaza.

The Czech Football Association fired coach Ivan Hašek on Wednesday following a humiliating 2-1 defeat to Faroe Islands in World Cup qualifying. Czech FA president David Trunda said a coach would be named to lead the team until the end of the qualifying campaign.

Victor Osimhen plundered a hat trick and substitute Frank Onyeka scored a pile driver as Nigeria routed Benin in Uyo.

Spain takes on Bulgaria at the Estadio José Zorrilla in Valladolid on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Kickoff is set for 8:45 p.m. CEST local time. That makes it a 7:45 p.m. BST start in the UK, and a 2:45 p.m. ET or 11:45 a.m. PT kickoff in the US and Canada. For viewers in Australia, the game starts at 5:45 a.m. AEDT on Wednesday.