The FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers for the latest international break begins on Thursday evening when a number of groups play their penultimate game of the campaign as the race for a place in the finals intensifies.
It is a night where the likes of France and Portugal will be looking to secure their qualification for the main tournament while England, who have already qualified, will continue their preparations for next summer.
Group D
Group D is one of the groups in action on Thursday evening and it begins with the earlier kick off as Iceland look to strengthen their playoff hopes when they make the trip to take on an Azerbaijan side who have been found out in more illustrious company. When they are done former winners France will look to secure their spot at another World Cup when they host a Ukraine side who know only really a win will keep their automatic hopes alive while a defeat could see them in a do or die clash with Iceland over the weekend.
Group F
Portugal will be looking to secure their automatic qualification for the finals on Thursday night. They head to Dublin to take on a Republic of Ireland side who need a result to keep their playoff hopes alive so that is a huge game. Hungary will look to remain in pole position for that playoff place when they play in the early kick off. They go to Armenia who could themselves finish in second spot in the table at the end of the night should they cause what would be something of an upset so there is a lot to play for in this group.
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Group I
It looks like Group I will head for a fascinating conclusion with Norway and Italy set to fight it out for the automatic qualifying spot on the final night of the campaign. If that is to be the case then both need to win when they play on Thursday. Norway are involved in the early kick off when they go in search of what is expected to be three routine points when they host Estonia before Italy get the chance to respond when they make the trip to Moldova knowing that only a victory will see them avoid having to go through the playoffs.
Group K
We already know that England have qualified for the finals from Group K but the Three Lions could have a big impact on who makes the playoff spot. Serbia are a point behind Albania in the chase for it but they have a tricky trip to Wembley to negotiate. Were they to lose that match when Albania can book their spot in the playoffs should they get the better of Andorra when they make the trip to take on the minnows in what looks a fantastic chance for the Albanians to move closer to a first ever World Cup appearance.
Betting
It is a big night for Iceland as they go about looking to book that playoff spot over the next few nights and they know if that is going to happen then they have to go to Azerbaijan and win and the better they win the better just in case Ukraine get a result in France later in the night. Iceland should be buoyed by their chances of that by the fact that they won the reverse match 5-0 so going to Baku and winning is something that should be in their sights.
Iceland are a little short to back just to win but when you consider that every Azerbaijan game in this group and every Iceland one have all had two or more goals, adding over 1.5 goals to the bet to bring us up to around 1.85 in terms of the price which feels much fairer. This is an Iceland side who have scored 11 goals in this group so they are averaging two goals per game against France and Ukraine so scoring two shouldn’t be beyond them. Azerbaijan have shipped 11 in four games and so a much more vibrant Iceland side than the one they are remembered for of a decade ago and win this with a few goals in the process.
Tips
Back Iceland to beat Azerbaijan and over 1.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with BetVictor
