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Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo attended the black-tie dinner on Tuesday (Nov 18) night at the White House hosted by US President Donald Trump for Saudi Arabia crown price Mohammed Bin Salman. Ronaldo, one of the best ever to play the game, currently plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Pro League and has become the face of modernaisation in the country - an initiative by the Saudi crown price and de facto leader. This is Ronaldo's first known US visit since 2016.<h2>Trump says son Barron respects him more after meeting Ronaldo</h2>President Trump, told the dinner guests at the White House while turning to Ronaldo: “My son is a big fan of Ronaldo. And Baron (Trump) got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Football icon and Al-Nassr club&#39;s Cristiano Ronaldo attends White House dinner honouring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CristianoRonaldo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CristianoRonaldo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DonaldTrump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaudiArabia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaudiArabia</a> <a href="https://t.co/7D6i7xtfQe">pic.twitter.com/7D6i7xtfQe</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1991044447333986382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-hands-pakistan-batter-babar-azam-punishment-for-breach-of-code-of-conduct-1763530704600">ICC hands Pakistan batter Babar Azam punishment for breach of Code of Conduct</a>Along with Ronaldo, tech billionaire Elon Musk also attended the event. This was the first time Musk was at White House since quitting his role in Trump admin as the head of Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) in April earlier this year. A public feud played out between Musk and Trump on social media before the businessman quit his role.<h2>Ronaldo face of Saudi's new look</h2>Ever since the Portuguese joined Al Nassr in 2023, he has been the face of oil-rich country's new look under the crown prince. Ronaldo's club Al Nassr in Saudi Pro League is owned by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is chaired by price Salman. Saudi has invested heavily in sports to boost tourism in the country with major sports being football and LIV Golf. The middle-eastern country will also be hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup as well.

Along with Ronaldo, tech billionaire Elon Musk also attended the event. This was the first time Musk was at White House since quitting his role in Trump admin as the head of Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) in April earlier this year.

Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo attended the black-tie dinner on Tuesday (Nov 18) night at the White House hosted by US President Donald Trump for Saudi Arabia crown price Mohammed Bin Salman. Ronaldo, one of the best ever to play the game, currently plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Pro League and has become the face of modernaisation in the country - an initiative by the Saudi crown price and de facto leader. This is Ronaldo's first known US visit since 2016. Trump says son Barron respects him more after meeting Ronaldo President Trump, told the dinner guests at the White House while turning to Ronaldo: “My son is a big fan of Ronaldo. And Baron (Trump) got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you.”

Along with Ronaldo, tech billionaire Elon Musk also attended the event. This was the first time Musk was at White House since quitting his role in Trump admin as the head of Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) in April earlier this year.

Trump earns 'little more' respect from son for introduction to Ronaldo at White House dinner for Saudi crown prince Salman

The tiny Caribbean nation of Curacao became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday as Haiti booked their return to the tournament for the first time in 52 years along with Panama. A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao -- with a population of just 156,000 -- squeeze into next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston. Haiti, meanwhile, who last appeared in the World Cup in 1974, also completed an improbable qualification campaign with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua.Ironically, Haiti secured their decisive qualification victory in Curacao, where the team have been forced to play their home qualifiers due to unrest in their homeland.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/germany-netherland-book-fifa-world-cup-2026-spots-with-cruising-wins-1763438257176">Germany, Netherland book FIFA World Cup 2026 spots with cruising wins</a>Panama, meanwhile, grabbed the other automatic qualification spot on offer on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over El Salvador at home.That victory ended Suriname's hopes of grabbing automatic qualification. Suriname, beaten 3-1 away by Guatemala, nevertheless squeezed into the playoff places.Curacao, whose veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat was forced to miss the game due to a family issue in the Netherlands, were left celebrating a historic result.The team known as the 'Blue Wave' finished top of Group B with 12 points from six games, one point clear of Jamaica.Curacao are by far the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, which is being expanded to 48 teams next year for the first time.The previous smallest country to qualify for the tournament were Iceland in 2018, with a population of around 350,000.

A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao -- with a population of just 156,000 -- squeeze into next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston.

The tiny Caribbean nation of Curacao became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday as Haiti booked their return to the tournament for the first time in 52 years along with Panama. A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao -- with a population of just 156,000 -- squeeze into next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston. Haiti, meanwhile, who last appeared in the World Cup in 1974, also completed an improbable qualification campaign with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua. Ironically, Haiti secured their decisive qualification victory in Curacao, where the team have been forced to play their home qualifiers due to unrest in their homeland. Also Read - Germany, Netherland book FIFA World Cup 2026 spots with cruising wins Panama, meanwhile, grabbed the other automatic qualification spot on offer on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over El Salvador at home. That victory ended Suriname's hopes of grabbing automatic qualification. Suriname, beaten 3-1 away by Guatemala, nevertheless squeezed into the playoff places. Curacao, whose veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat was forced to miss the game due to a family issue in the Netherlands, were left celebrating a historic result. The team known as the 'Blue Wave' finished top of Group B with 12 points from six games, one point clear of Jamaica. Curacao are by far the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, which is being expanded to 48 teams next year for the first time. The previous smallest country to qualify for the tournament were Iceland in 2018, with a population of around 350,000.

A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao -- with a population of just 156,000 -- squeeze into next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston.

Caribbean Curacao scripts history with FIFA World Cup 2026 spot, Haiti and Panama also through

India suffered a 0-1 defeat in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Group C match against hosts Bangladesh at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.A first-half goal by Shekh Morsalin (12') was enough to see the home side take the three points, though the Blue Tigers mounted a barrage of attacks on Bangladesh in the second half, as per the AIFF website.&nbsp;Singapore, who defeated Hong Kong, China 2-1 earlier in the day in Hong Kong, sealed the group's top spot with 11 points and qualified for the Asian Cup. Hong Kong are in second place with eight points. Bangladesh and India are third and fourth with five and two points, respectively.&nbsp;Lallianzuala Chhangte played his 50th international match on Tuesday, while India head coach Khalid Jamil handed debuts to Mohammed Sanan and Lalremtluanga Fanai, bringing the two on from the bench.&nbsp;After a seesaw start at the National Stadium, Bangladesh broke with speed on the counter, having cleared an India long throw. Rakib Hossain harried down the left and sent a low centre to an unmarked Morsalin, who slipped it past India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.&nbsp;India were taken by surprise but soon regained composure and began to construct their attacks. Suresh Singh Wangjam scuffed a 17th-minute shot from outside the box after latching onto a clearance, while Nikhil Prabhu had his long-range effort blocked soon after.&nbsp;India's best chance came just after the half-hour mark, when striker Rahim Ali did well to close down Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma and win the ball. The India forward played it back to Macarton Louis Nickson, who laid it off to Lallianzuala Chhangte for a crack at an empty goal. However, Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury intervened, putting his head in the way of the shot.&nbsp;The Blue Tigers grew in confidence, and their attacks showed as much. Anwar Ali connected well with a Chhangte corner in the 35th minute, but it was cleared once again. Minutes later, Anwar was involved again when he flicked on a Rahul Bheke long throw for Rahim, who attempted an outrageous back-volley, only to scuff the effort.&nbsp;Choudhury produced a volley on the stroke of half-time against the run of play, but sent it just wide of the post.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;India came out with more intent in the second half, as Jamil introduced Mahesh Singh Naorem in place of Prabhu. The substitution brought immediate impact, with Mahesh using his creativity to trouble the Bangladesh defence.&nbsp;Suresh whipped a free-kick from the left into the box, which was headed goalwards by Bheke, with Rahim waiting at the goalmouth to turn it in. However, Bangladesh's defenders managed to clear the danger before the heavily guarded forward could reach the ball.&nbsp;The introduction of Sanan created further opportunities for India, as the winger used his trickery and awareness on the left flank. Receiving a pass from Rahim in the 66th minute, Sanan dummied his marker to cut inside and shoot, but his effort was saved.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;A minute later, the winger hung a beautiful cross from the left towards an unmarked Brison Fernandes, who headed wide. With around 15 minutes left, Sanan had yet another opportunity when the ball fell kindly to him after a melee at a corner. The 21-year-old volleyed it with his side-foot, aiming for the bottom corner, but Marma was alert and tipped it away.&nbsp;Amid the array of Indian attacks, Bangladesh looked to create a few counters of their own and came close to doubling their lead in the 79th minute when Topu Barman's strike from outside the box was collected by a diving Gurpreet.&nbsp;As Bangladesh sought a two-goal cushion, India launched counterattacks of its own. One such move in the 84th minute saw Vikram Partap Singh and Brison Fernandes charge at the Bangladesh area. Vikram, who had possession, was pulled back, though play continued.&nbsp;Despite a frantic finish, the Bangladesh defence held firm to secure the three points against the Blue Tigers.&nbsp;India will face Hong Kong in their last AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match on March 31, 2026&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Singapore, who defeated Hong Kong, China 2-1 earlier in the day in Hong Kong, sealed the group's top spot with 11 points and qualified for the Asian Cup. Hong Kong are in second place with eight points. Bangladesh and India are third and fourth with five and two points, respectively.

India suffered a 0-1 defeat in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Group C match against hosts Bangladesh at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. A first-half goal by Shekh Morsalin (12') was enough to see the home side take the three points, though the Blue Tigers mounted a barrage of attacks on Bangladesh in the second half, as per the AIFF website. Singapore, who defeated Hong Kong, China 2-1 earlier in the day in Hong Kong, sealed the group's top spot with 11 points and qualified for the Asian Cup. Hong Kong are in second place with eight points. Bangladesh and India are third and fourth with five and two points, respectively. Lallianzuala Chhangte played his 50th international match on Tuesday, while India head coach Khalid Jamil handed debuts to Mohammed Sanan and Lalremtluanga Fanai, bringing the two on from the bench. After a seesaw start at the National Stadium, Bangladesh broke with speed on the counter, having cleared an India long throw. Rakib Hossain harried down the left and sent a low centre to an unmarked Morsalin, who slipped it past India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. India were taken by surprise but soon regained composure and began to construct their attacks. Suresh Singh Wangjam scuffed a 17th-minute shot from outside the box after latching onto a clearance, while Nikhil Prabhu had his long-range effort blocked soon after. India's best chance came just after the half-hour mark, when striker Rahim Ali did well to close down Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma and win the ball. The India forward played it back to Macarton Louis Nickson, who laid it off to Lallianzuala Chhangte for a crack at an empty goal. However, Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury intervened, putting his head in the way of the shot. The Blue Tigers grew in confidence, and their attacks showed as much. Anwar Ali connected well with a Chhangte corner in the 35th minute, but it was cleared once again. Minutes later, Anwar was involved again when he flicked on a Rahul Bheke long throw for Rahim, who attempted an outrageous back-volley, only to scuff the effort. Choudhury produced a volley on the stroke of half-time against the run of play, but sent it just wide of the post. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes India came out with more intent in the second half, as Jamil introduced Mahesh Singh Naorem in place of Prabhu. The substitution brought immediate impact, with Mahesh using his creativity to trouble the Bangladesh defence. Suresh whipped a free-kick from the left into the box, which was headed goalwards by Bheke, with Rahim waiting at the goalmouth to turn it in. However, Bangladesh's defenders managed to clear the danger before the heavily guarded forward could reach the ball. The introduction of Sanan created further opportunities for India, as the winger used his trickery and awareness on the left flank. Receiving a pass from Rahim in the 66th minute, Sanan dummied his marker to cut inside and shoot, but his effort was saved. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes A minute later, the winger hung a beautiful cross from the left towards an unmarked Brison Fernandes, who headed wide. With around 15 minutes left, Sanan had yet another opportunity when the ball fell kindly to him after a melee at a corner. The 21-year-old volleyed it with his side-foot, aiming for the bottom corner, but Marma was alert and tipped it away. Amid the array of Indian attacks, Bangladesh looked to create a few counters of their own and came close to doubling their lead in the 79th minute when Topu Barman's strike from outside the box was collected by a diving Gurpreet. As Bangladesh sought a two-goal cushion, India launched counterattacks of its own. One such move in the 84th minute saw Vikram Partap Singh and Brison Fernandes charge at the Bangladesh area. Vikram, who had possession, was pulled back, though play continued. Despite a frantic finish, the Bangladesh defence held firm to secure the three points against the Blue Tigers. India will face Hong Kong in their last AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match on March 31, 2026 Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Singapore, who defeated Hong Kong, China 2-1 earlier in the day in Hong Kong, sealed the group's top spot with 11 points and qualified for the Asian Cup. Hong Kong are in second place with eight points. Bangladesh and India are third and fourth with five and two points, respectively.

AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: India suffer embarrassing defeat to Bangladesh

An Argentine judge was relieved of her post on Tuesday after causing a mistrial in the negligence case against late football legend Diego Maradona's medical team due to her involvement in a documentary about it.&nbsp;A special panel of judges, lawyers and provincial legislators dismissed Julieta Makintach, 48, from her post and disqualified her from holding any other judicial position in the future.&nbsp;Makintach was one of three judges in the now-annulled trial that followed Maradona's death in 2020 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot after decades battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.&nbsp;She recused herself after it emerged she had been interviewed for a miniseries about the case, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Maradona died on November 25, 2020, aged 60, of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema two weeks after going under the knife.&nbsp;He was found dead in his bed by a day nurse.&nbsp;Maradona's medical team is on trial over the conditions of his convalescence at a private home.&nbsp;Prosecutors have described the football icon's care in his last days as grossly negligent.The defendants risk prison terms between eight and 25 years if convicted of "homicide with possible intent" -- pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;The case so far has focused on the decision by Maradona's doctors to allow him to recuperate at home with minimal supervision and medical equipment, instead of a medical facility.&nbsp;Makintach had denied participating in, or authorizing, any filming for a documentary about the case, but footage shared in Argentine media showed her allegedly being interviewed by a film crew on the eve of the trial starting.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Julieta Makintach was one of three judges in the now-annulled trial that followed Maradona's death in 2020 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot after decades battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.

An Argentine judge was relieved of her post on Tuesday after causing a mistrial in the negligence case against late football legend Diego Maradona's medical team due to her involvement in a documentary about it. A special panel of judges, lawyers and provincial legislators dismissed Julieta Makintach, 48, from her post and disqualified her from holding any other judicial position in the future. Makintach was one of three judges in the now-annulled trial that followed Maradona's death in 2020 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot after decades battling cocaine and alcohol addictions. She recused herself after it emerged she had been interviewed for a miniseries about the case, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Maradona died on November 25, 2020, aged 60, of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema two weeks after going under the knife. He was found dead in his bed by a day nurse. Maradona's medical team is on trial over the conditions of his convalescence at a private home. Prosecutors have described the football icon's care in his last days as grossly negligent. The defendants risk prison terms between eight and 25 years if convicted of "homicide with possible intent" -- pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes The case so far has focused on the decision by Maradona's doctors to allow him to recuperate at home with minimal supervision and medical equipment, instead of a medical facility. Makintach had denied participating in, or authorizing, any filming for a documentary about the case, but footage shared in Argentine media showed her allegedly being interviewed by a film crew on the eve of the trial starting. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Julieta Makintach was one of three judges in the now-annulled trial that followed Maradona's death in 2020 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot after decades battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.

Argentine judge fired after causing mistrial of Diego Maradona's medical team

It will be a day of destiny for minnows Kosovo as they could book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday (Nov 18). Set to face Group B leaders Switzerland in the final qualifying match, Kosovo, which gained independence in 2008, could write a new chapter by securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The evening will also see the likes of Scotland and Turkey square off in their respective qualifiers to gain a place in football’s greatest show.&nbsp;<h2>What are the current standings?</h2>In Group B, Switzerland lead the way as group leaders with 13 points in five matches and a goal difference of +12, while Kosovo sit second with 10 points and a goal difference of +1. On the other hand, Scotland will enter the last qualifier with 10 points and sitting second in Group C. Denmark currently lead the group with 11 points in five matches. On the other hand, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also in frame to qualify as group winners and therefore a direct place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;<h2>Kosovo, Switzerland’s equation for World Cup qualification</h2>Switzerland and Kosovo will go head-to-head in the final qualifier, with a win or a draw enough for the former to reach the World Cup. For Kosovo, they need to win by 6-0 or a better margin, which will see them gain a goal difference of +7, while Switzerland will drop down to +6. This will see Kosovo qualify for the World Cup, while Switzerland will play in the Playoffs. Any other set of results will see Switzerland reach the World Cup and Kosovo in the Playoffs.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a><h2>Scotland, Denmark’s equation for World Cup qualification</h2>Scotland could end their 28-year wait to qualify for a FIFA World Cup as they face Denmark in the final qualifier. A win for Scotland will see them officially seal a place in the North American showpiece as they will leapfrog Denmark. However, any other result will see Scotland settle for a second-place finish and therefore a place in the Playoffs.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>Spain, Turkey’s equation for World Cup qualification</h2>Spain will enter the final qualifier with 15 points in five matches, but Turkey sit hot on their shoulders as they have 12 points. However, Turkey need a goal swing of 15 if they are reach the World Cup. Turkey can qualify for the World Cup with a 7-0 or a better win margin. However, a smaller win margin could see them miss out on the World Cup finals with Spain going through. The 2010 champions can also qualify for the World Cup with a draw.

Set to face Group B leaders Switzerland in the final qualifying match, Kosovo, which gained independence in 2008, could write a new chapter by securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It will be a day of destiny for minnows Kosovo as they could book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday (Nov 18). Set to face Group B leaders Switzerland in the final qualifying match, Kosovo, which gained independence in 2008, could write a new chapter by securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The evening will also see the likes of Scotland and Turkey square off in their respective qualifiers to gain a place in football’s greatest show. What are the current standings? In Group B, Switzerland lead the way as group leaders with 13 points in five matches and a goal difference of +12, while Kosovo sit second with 10 points and a goal difference of +1. On the other hand, Scotland will enter the last qualifier with 10 points and sitting second in Group C. Denmark currently lead the group with 11 points in five matches. On the other hand, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also in frame to qualify as group winners and therefore a direct place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kosovo, Switzerland’s equation for World Cup qualification Switzerland and Kosovo will go head-to-head in the final qualifier, with a win or a draw enough for the former to reach the World Cup. For Kosovo, they need to win by 6-0 or a better margin, which will see them gain a goal difference of +7, while Switzerland will drop down to +6. This will see Kosovo qualify for the World Cup, while Switzerland will play in the Playoffs. Any other set of results will see Switzerland reach the World Cup and Kosovo in the Playoffs. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Scotland, Denmark’s equation for World Cup qualification Scotland could end their 28-year wait to qualify for a FIFA World Cup as they face Denmark in the final qualifier. A win for Scotland will see them officially seal a place in the North American showpiece as they will leapfrog Denmark. However, any other result will see Scotland settle for a second-place finish and therefore a place in the Playoffs. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Spain, Turkey’s equation for World Cup qualification Spain will enter the final qualifier with 15 points in five matches, but Turkey sit hot on their shoulders as they have 12 points. However, Turkey need a goal swing of 15 if they are reach the World Cup. Turkey can qualify for the World Cup with a 7-0 or a better win margin. However, a smaller win margin could see them miss out on the World Cup finals with Spain going through. The 2010 champions can also qualify for the World Cup with a draw.

Set to face Group B leaders Switzerland in the final qualifying match, Kosovo, which gained independence in 2008, could write a new chapter by securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Explained: How Kosovo, Scotland can qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup on final matchday

In anticipation of the large numbers of fans coming to the USA for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Trump administrations has announced a new visa system to expedite the requests of ticket holders. The new system, however, does not guarantee a visa, clarified the admin. The USA is hosting the football world cup for the first time since 1994. Along with the US, Canada and Mexico are also the co-host of the quadrennial tournament. There would be more fans in the upcoming edition as it has been expanded to 48 teams instead of the traditional 32 teams.<h2>US introduces new visa system for World Cup ticket holders</h2>Under the new FIFA prioritized appointment scheduling system announced on Monday (Nov 17), the fans with tickets to the US-hosted game will get priority appointment for the visas at the embassies world wide. The US has deployed more than 400 additional consular staff worldwide which has brought the appointment time from an year to 60 days in some countries.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-women-skipper-sultana-unnecessarily-drags-harmanpreet-to-defend-allegations-of-beating-up-juniors-1763440366415">Bangladesh skipper Sultana drags Harman in defence of allegations against her</a>“In places, for example, like Brazil and Argentina, you would have [had] over a year to get an appointment. Now you can get [one] in less than two months,” US Secretary of State Rubio said.<h2>Ticket doesn't guarantee a visa</h2>Rubio, however, made it clear that the new fast-tracker system is only to expedite the appointment process and does not guarantee a visa despite having the ticket.“Your ticket is not a visa. It doesn’t guarantee admission to the US,” Rubio said. “It guarantees you an expedited appointment. You’re still going to go through the same vetting. We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue.”The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities across the US, Canada and Mexico with 11 of those 16 venues being in the United States.

Under the new FIFA prioritized appointment scheduling system announced on Monday (Nov 17), the fans with tickets to the US-hosted game will get priority appointment for the visas at the embassies world wide.

In anticipation of the large numbers of fans coming to the USA for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Trump administrations has announced a new visa system to expedite the requests of ticket holders. The new system, however, does not guarantee a visa, clarified the admin. The USA is hosting the football world cup for the first time since 1994. Along with the US, Canada and Mexico are also the co-host of the quadrennial tournament. There would be more fans in the upcoming edition as it has been expanded to 48 teams instead of the traditional 32 teams. US introduces new visa system for World Cup ticket holders Under the new FIFA prioritized appointment scheduling system announced on Monday (Nov 17), the fans with tickets to the US-hosted game will get priority appointment for the visas at the embassies world wide. The US has deployed more than 400 additional consular staff worldwide which has brought the appointment time from an year to 60 days in some countries. Also Read - Bangladesh skipper Sultana drags Harman in defence of allegations against her “In places, for example, like Brazil and Argentina, you would have [had] over a year to get an appointment. Now you can get [one] in less than two months,” US Secretary of State Rubio said. Ticket doesn't guarantee a visa Rubio, however, made it clear that the new fast-tracker system is only to expedite the appointment process and does not guarantee a visa despite having the ticket. “Your ticket is not a visa. It doesn’t guarantee admission to the US,” Rubio said. “It guarantees you an expedited appointment. You’re still going to go through the same vetting. We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue.” The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities across the US, Canada and Mexico with 11 of those 16 venues being in the United States.

Under the new FIFA prioritized appointment scheduling system announced on Monday (Nov 17), the fans with tickets to the US-hosted game will get priority appointment for the visas at the embassies world wide.

US announces new visa system for FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders, insists 'no guarantees'

The Indian football team is preparing for their upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match against Bangladesh under tight security in Dhaka. The Indian team arrived in Dhaka on Saturday (Nov 15) evening amid the politically sensitive situation in Bangladesh because of court proceedings against former president Sheikh Hasina. This is also the first time in 22 years that the Indian football team is in Dhaka for a match. The security is beefed up across the country because of the case against Hasina who is currently taking refuge in India.<h2>India football team practice under tight security</h2>"There are police forces outside the hotel at all times,” a team source told TOI. “Police vehicles and a motorcade escort the team bus. Even for today’s training session, there were more than usual security personnel.”Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-women-skipper-sultana-unnecessarily-drags-harmanpreet-to-defend-allegations-of-beating-up-juniors-1763440366415">Bangladesh women skipper Sultana unnecessarily drags Harmanpreet to defend allegations of 'beating up juniors'</a>Speaking on the situation, Indian player Sandeep Jhingan, in a statement issued by AIFF, said: "We were briefed before coming here. But I trust the Indian High Commission and the local authorities with everything. We, as athletes, are only focused on putting our best foot forward while playing. Sport is something that unites people, and I hope this game can also unite and bring a good feeling. So far, we've felt fine."<h2>The Sheikh Hasina situation</h2>The former president fled Bangladesh and came to India after a student uprising overthrew her Awami League government. Now, Bangladesh's International Court of Tribunal (ICT) has found Hasina guilty of 'crimes against humanity' for the lives lost during the student protest last year. The ICT has given Hasina death penalty for the charges it found her guilty under and has asked India to send her over. While Bangladesh and India have an extradition treat in place, New Delhi, in a measured response, has said that it is open for 'consultation' in the matter.

This is also the first time in 22 years that the Indian football team is in Dhaka for a match. The security is beefed up across the country because of the case against Hasina who is currently taking refuge in India.

The Indian football team is preparing for their upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match against Bangladesh under tight security in Dhaka. The Indian team arrived in Dhaka on Saturday (Nov 15) evening amid the politically sensitive situation in Bangladesh because of court proceedings against former president Sheikh Hasina. This is also the first time in 22 years that the Indian football team is in Dhaka for a match. The security is beefed up across the country because of the case against Hasina who is currently taking refuge in India. India football team practice under tight security "There are police forces outside the hotel at all times,” a team source told TOI. “Police vehicles and a motorcade escort the team bus. Even for today’s training session, there were more than usual security personnel.” Also Read - Bangladesh women skipper Sultana unnecessarily drags Harmanpreet to defend allegations of 'beating up juniors' Speaking on the situation, Indian player Sandeep Jhingan, in a statement issued by AIFF, said: "We were briefed before coming here. But I trust the Indian High Commission and the local authorities with everything. We, as athletes, are only focused on putting our best foot forward while playing. Sport is something that unites people, and I hope this game can also unite and bring a good feeling. So far, we've felt fine." The Sheikh Hasina situation The former president fled Bangladesh and came to India after a student uprising overthrew her Awami League government. Now, Bangladesh's International Court of Tribunal (ICT) has found Hasina guilty of 'crimes against humanity' for the lives lost during the student protest last year. The ICT has given Hasina death penalty for the charges it found her guilty under and has asked India to send her over. While Bangladesh and India have an extradition treat in place, New Delhi, in a measured response, has said that it is open for 'consultation' in the matter.

This is also the first time in 22 years that the Indian football team is in Dhaka for a match. The security is beefed up across the country because of the case against Hasina who is currently taking refuge in India.

Indian football team prepares for first match in Bangladesh in over two decades under tight security

Germany and Netherlands went on goal sprees as they wrapped up World Cup qualification with resounding wins in their last European group matches on Monday. "Every player played well today and worked like a dog," Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann told German broadcaster ZDF. Both European giants needed only to draw to be sure of reaching the global footballing showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Instead, both went on the attack.Germany took early control as they beat Slovakia 6-0 in Leipzig. The Netherlands took longer to pull away before overcoming Lithuania 4-0 in Amsterdam.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-paralympics-gold-medallist-paige-greco-dies-aged-28-1763372174714">Australian Paralympics gold medallist Paige Greco dies aged 28</a>Slovakia finished second in Group A. Poland, who survived a scare to win 3-2 in Malta, ended up second to the Dutch in Group G. Second spot secures a place in the 16-team European play-offs in March.Northern Ireland's 1-0 win over Luxembourg in Belfast could not lift them out of third in Group A but they will make the play-offs because of their Nations League performance.In Group L, Croatia, already assured of first place, scored twice in the last 18 minutes to cone from behind and win 3-2 away to Montenegro. The Czech Republic, in second, slaughtered visiting Gibraltar 6-0.In Leipzig, four times winners Germany started the night level on points with opponents Slovakia atop Group A but with an edge in goal difference. Slovakia, who beat Germany earlier in qualifying, created some threatening moments but could not take them.Nick Woltemade headed the Germans into an 18th minute lead. Once Serge Gnabry added a second 11 minutes later, the hosts were in total control. Leroy Sane scored twice before half time and substitutes Ridle Baku and Assan Ouedraogo struck in the second half."We're relieved. It's a great moment," Woltemade told Germany's ZDF. "I'm playing, I'm scoring goals and I'm hopefully playing at the World Cup.""Tonight we showed the quality we have in this team. It was a pleasure."Nagelsmann praised his team's attitude."We showed incredible team spirit and pushed ourselves on the pitch from the very beginning," he said.<h2>High-tempo Dutch</h2>In Amsterdam, Ronald Koeman's Dutch team entertained the 50,000 spectators as their high-tempo play constantly pinned Lithuania back in their own half.Tijani Reijnders perfectly set up by Frenkie de Jong gave the hosts a 15-minute lead but the massed visiting defence and a spectacular first-half display by goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas held the Dutch at bay until the 58th minute.Cody Gakpo added a second from the penalty spot before Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen struck in the next four minutes allowing Koeman to bring on five substitutes.Like Woltemade, the 27-year-old Reijnders was excited to be heading to the World Cup. He did not make his Netherlands debut until after the 2022 Qatar finals."I watched it at home, on the couch, with my Oranje shirt on," he said. "This time round it's obviously going to be very different for me. I'll have to wait a while until it comes around, but I'm really looking forward to taking part for the first time."In Malta, Poland were given a scare on the way to a victory which ultimately did not lift them out of second place.Robert Lewandowski, whose unhappiness at a reduced role in the team led to a coaching change earlier in the campaign, gave the Poles the lead after 32 minutes.Irvin Cardona replied for the home four minutes later.Lewandowski then set up Pawel Wszolek after 59 minutes but the game took a wild swing to Malta in the 68th minute.Karol Swiderski finished a Polish counter-attack by sticking the ball into the net but a video check showed that at the start of the move Jakub Kiwior had fouled Cardona in the Polish box.Teddy Teuma levelled from the penalty.But Piotr Zielinski's long-range strike flew in off a post after 85 minutes to give Poland victory.

Germany took early control as they beat Slovakia 6-0 in Leipzig. The Netherlands took longer to pull away before overcoming Lithuania 4-0 in Amsterdam.

Germany and Netherlands went on goal sprees as they wrapped up World Cup qualification with resounding wins in their last European group matches on Monday. "Every player played well today and worked like a dog," Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann told German broadcaster ZDF. Both European giants needed only to draw to be sure of reaching the global footballing showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Instead, both went on the attack. Germany took early control as they beat Slovakia 6-0 in Leipzig. The Netherlands took longer to pull away before overcoming Lithuania 4-0 in Amsterdam. Also Read - Australian Paralympics gold medallist Paige Greco dies aged 28 Slovakia finished second in Group A. Poland, who survived a scare to win 3-2 in Malta, ended up second to the Dutch in Group G. Second spot secures a place in the 16-team European play-offs in March. Northern Ireland's 1-0 win over Luxembourg in Belfast could not lift them out of third in Group A but they will make the play-offs because of their Nations League performance. In Group L, Croatia, already assured of first place, scored twice in the last 18 minutes to cone from behind and win 3-2 away to Montenegro. The Czech Republic, in second, slaughtered visiting Gibraltar 6-0. In Leipzig, four times winners Germany started the night level on points with opponents Slovakia atop Group A but with an edge in goal difference. Slovakia, who beat Germany earlier in qualifying, created some threatening moments but could not take them. Nick Woltemade headed the Germans into an 18th minute lead. Once Serge Gnabry added a second 11 minutes later, the hosts were in total control. Leroy Sane scored twice before half time and substitutes Ridle Baku and Assan Ouedraogo struck in the second half. "We're relieved. It's a great moment," Woltemade told Germany's ZDF. "I'm playing, I'm scoring goals and I'm hopefully playing at the World Cup." "Tonight we showed the quality we have in this team. It was a pleasure." Nagelsmann praised his team's attitude. "We showed incredible team spirit and pushed ourselves on the pitch from the very beginning," he said. High-tempo Dutch In Amsterdam, Ronald Koeman's Dutch team entertained the 50,000 spectators as their high-tempo play constantly pinned Lithuania back in their own half. Tijani Reijnders perfectly set up by Frenkie de Jong gave the hosts a 15-minute lead but the massed visiting defence and a spectacular first-half display by goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas held the Dutch at bay until the 58th minute. Cody Gakpo added a second from the penalty spot before Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen struck in the next four minutes allowing Koeman to bring on five substitutes. Like Woltemade, the 27-year-old Reijnders was excited to be heading to the World Cup. He did not make his Netherlands debut until after the 2022 Qatar finals. "I watched it at home, on the couch, with my Oranje shirt on," he said. "This time round it's obviously going to be very different for me. I'll have to wait a while until it comes around, but I'm really looking forward to taking part for the first time." In Malta, Poland were given a scare on the way to a victory which ultimately did not lift them out of second place. Robert Lewandowski, whose unhappiness at a reduced role in the team led to a coaching change earlier in the campaign, gave the Poles the lead after 32 minutes. Irvin Cardona replied for the home four minutes later. Lewandowski then set up Pawel Wszolek after 59 minutes but the game took a wild swing to Malta in the 68th minute. Karol Swiderski finished a Polish counter-attack by sticking the ball into the net but a video check showed that at the start of the move Jakub Kiwior had fouled Cardona in the Polish box. Teddy Teuma levelled from the penalty. But Piotr Zielinski's long-range strike flew in off a post after 85 minutes to give Poland victory.

Germany took early control as they beat Slovakia 6-0 in Leipzig. The Netherlands took longer to pull away before overcoming Lithuania 4-0 in Amsterdam.

Germany, Netherland book FIFA World Cup 2026 spots with cruising wins

France captain Kylian Mbappe on Monday claimed 263 million euros ($305m) from Paris Saint-Germain in an escalating dispute over the status of his contract and how his former club treated him.&nbsp;PSG countersued Mbappe, who moved to Real Madrid last year, for 240m euros in Paris' labour court, basing that figure on a botched 300m-euro transfer to Saudi club Al Hilal which the player refused.&nbsp;Mbappe, 26, initially filed a complaint in June over the way he was treated by PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;He believes he was sidelined by the Qatari-owned club and made to train with players the club were trying to offload after refusing to agree a new contract.&nbsp;It is a practice which has also affected other footballers and prompted the French players' union to lodge a complaint last year.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Mbappe was not invited to take part in PSG's 2023 pre-season tour of Asia and missed the first game of that season but was later restored to the team after holding talks with the club.&nbsp;After seven seasons with PSG, he joined Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer where he earns a reported annual salary of 30m euros.&nbsp;He scored 256 goals in 308 games for PSG but the club won the Champions League for the first time last season following the striker's departure.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Kylian Mbappe, 26, initially filed a complaint in June over the way he was treated by PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season.

France captain Kylian Mbappe on Monday claimed 263 million euros ($305m) from Paris Saint-Germain in an escalating dispute over the status of his contract and how his former club treated him. PSG countersued Mbappe, who moved to Real Madrid last year, for 240m euros in Paris' labour court, basing that figure on a botched 300m-euro transfer to Saudi club Al Hilal which the player refused. Mbappe, 26, initially filed a complaint in June over the way he was treated by PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes He believes he was sidelined by the Qatari-owned club and made to train with players the club were trying to offload after refusing to agree a new contract. It is a practice which has also affected other footballers and prompted the French players' union to lodge a complaint last year. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Mbappe was not invited to take part in PSG's 2023 pre-season tour of Asia and missed the first game of that season but was later restored to the team after holding talks with the club. After seven seasons with PSG, he joined Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer where he earns a reported annual salary of 30m euros. He scored 256 goals in 308 games for PSG but the club won the Champions League for the first time last season following the striker's departure. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Kylian Mbappe, 26, initially filed a complaint in June over the way he was treated by PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season.

Kylian Mbappe, PSG in counterclaims worth hundreds of millions

Barcelona will finally return to their reconstructed Camp Nou stadium against Athletic Bilbao on November 22 in La Liga, the club said Monday, after more than two years in exile.&nbsp;Since the stadium closed at the end of the 2022/23 season, the Catalan giants have been forced to play elsewhere, mainly at the Olympic Stadium on the city's Montjuic hill.&nbsp;A series of delays means Camp Nou is reopening a year after it was originally slated to, following a 1.5 billion euro ($1.75 billion) transformation beset by construction chaos.&nbsp;Barcelona will open the stadium with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, with space for 105,000 when the top tier is completed.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;They opened the stadium up for 23,000 fans to watch a training session earlier in November as a test event in the reopening process.&nbsp;Barcelona are also hoping to receive the green light from UEFA to host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Camp Nou in the Champions League on December 9.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;The Spanish champions were forced to play two matches at their 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff training ground stadium in the first weeks of the season after failing to get the permit they needed for Camp Nou, because of safety reasons.&nbsp;The previous iteration of Camp Nou was built in 1957 and had a capacity of 99,000.Barcelona plan to add a roof to the stadium which will be installed in the summer of 2027, a year later than the project was anticipated to be completed.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Barcelona will open the stadium with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, with space for 105,000 when the top tier is completed.

Barcelona will finally return to their reconstructed Camp Nou stadium against Athletic Bilbao on November 22 in La Liga, the club said Monday, after more than two years in exile. Since the stadium closed at the end of the 2022/23 season, the Catalan giants have been forced to play elsewhere, mainly at the Olympic Stadium on the city's Montjuic hill. A series of delays means Camp Nou is reopening a year after it was originally slated to, following a 1.5 billion euro ($1.75 billion) transformation beset by construction chaos. Barcelona will open the stadium with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, with space for 105,000 when the top tier is completed. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes They opened the stadium up for 23,000 fans to watch a training session earlier in November as a test event in the reopening process. Barcelona are also hoping to receive the green light from UEFA to host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Camp Nou in the Champions League on December 9. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes The Spanish champions were forced to play two matches at their 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff training ground stadium in the first weeks of the season after failing to get the permit they needed for Camp Nou, because of safety reasons. The previous iteration of Camp Nou was built in 1957 and had a capacity of 99,000. Barcelona plan to add a roof to the stadium which will be installed in the summer of 2027, a year later than the project was anticipated to be completed. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Barcelona will open the stadium with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, with space for 105,000 when the top tier is completed.

Barcelona to make long-awaited Camp Nou return on November 22 against Athletic Bilbao

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are set for the final chapter as teams across Europe push for a spot in the showpiece event. While Portugal and Norway confirmed their spots in the World Cup, the likes of the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia and Poland will scramble for a place in the finals as they take to the field on Monday (Nov 17). So ahead of the key qualifiers, here is all you need to know as teams push for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;<h2>What is the current standings?</h2>In Group A, both Germany and Slovakia are locked on 12 points each from five matches and will go head-to-head on Monday in Leipzig. In Group G, matters are a little complicated. The Netherlands sit top of the group with 17 points and a goal difference of +19, while Poland are second with 14 points and a goal difference of +6. While Poland will play Malta in an away fixture, the Netherlands will be at home playing against Lithuania.&nbsp;<h2>Germany-Slovakia to decide Group A winners</h2>The head-to-head clash between Germany and Slovakia will be key in Group A, as the winner will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking top spot. The loser of the clash will have another chance to reach the main event as they will qualify for the Playoffs as Group A runners-up. A draw favours Germany as they hold a goal difference of +7 compared to Slovakia’s +4.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>Poland’s equation for qualification</h2>Poland’s equation for the World Cup qualifier will be interesting as they will need a helping hand from Lithuania. The Netherlands must lose to Lithuania and any other result will see Poland miss out on direct qualification. In the event the Netherlands lose, Poland will need to win their match with a goal swing of 13 goals. So if the Netherlands lose by one goal, Poland will have to win by a 13-goal margin. Any other result will see the Netherlands qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a><h2>Netherlands equation for qualification</h2>Even a defeat for the Netherlands will see them qualify for the FIFA World Cup if they avoid a goal swing of 13 in case Poland beat Malta. However, any other result, including a draw, will see the Dutch make the showpiece tournament. Currently, the two-time runners-up hold all the cards and are in pole position.

In Group A, both Germany and Slovakia are locked on 12 points each from five matches and will go head-to-head on Monday in Leipzig. In Group G, matters are a little complicated.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are set for the final chapter as teams across Europe push for a spot in the showpiece event. While Portugal and Norway confirmed their spots in the World Cup, the likes of the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia and Poland will scramble for a place in the finals as they take to the field on Monday (Nov 17). So ahead of the key qualifiers, here is all you need to know as teams push for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What is the current standings? In Group A, both Germany and Slovakia are locked on 12 points each from five matches and will go head-to-head on Monday in Leipzig. In Group G, matters are a little complicated. The Netherlands sit top of the group with 17 points and a goal difference of +19, while Poland are second with 14 points and a goal difference of +6. While Poland will play Malta in an away fixture, the Netherlands will be at home playing against Lithuania. Germany-Slovakia to decide Group A winners The head-to-head clash between Germany and Slovakia will be key in Group A, as the winner will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking top spot. The loser of the clash will have another chance to reach the main event as they will qualify for the Playoffs as Group A runners-up. A draw favours Germany as they hold a goal difference of +7 compared to Slovakia’s +4. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Poland’s equation for qualification Poland’s equation for the World Cup qualifier will be interesting as they will need a helping hand from Lithuania. The Netherlands must lose to Lithuania and any other result will see Poland miss out on direct qualification. In the event the Netherlands lose, Poland will need to win their match with a goal swing of 13 goals. So if the Netherlands lose by one goal, Poland will have to win by a 13-goal margin. Any other result will see the Netherlands qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Netherlands equation for qualification Even a defeat for the Netherlands will see them qualify for the FIFA World Cup if they avoid a goal swing of 13 in case Poland beat Malta. However, any other result, including a draw, will see the Dutch make the showpiece tournament. Currently, the two-time runners-up hold all the cards and are in pole position.

In Group A, both Germany and Slovakia are locked on 12 points each from five matches and will go head-to-head on Monday in Leipzig. In Group G, matters are a little complicated.

Explained: How Poland, Slovakia can qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup on final matchday

Norway qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 after Erling Haaland struck again in a 4-1 thumping of Italy on Sunday which sealed a spot in next summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Haaland scored the decisive brace in the space of seconds at a soaking San Siro for Norway, who completed Group I with a perfect 24 points from their eight qualifying matches. Norway would have had to lose by nine goals or more in order to be overtaken by Italy for the group's only automatic place for next summer's finals in North America, but Stale Solbakken's side ended their campaign in glorious fashion in front of 70,000 people.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fide-world-cup-2025-arjun-erigaisi-carries-india-s-lone-challenge-after-harikrishna-exits-1763312906376">FIDE World Cup: Arjun carries India’s lone challenge after Harikrishna exits</a>However, Solbakken was coy as to his powerful team's chances now that a 28-year weight has come to an end."Let's see the draw first... I haven't even thought about it. For me, it (tonight) was to go from 99 percent to 100 percent and now we have done it in a great way," Solbakken told reporters."Let's see what the draw brings before we go into those questions."Haaland's father Alf-Inge was still an international player when Norway last competed in the World Cup 27 years ago, a tournament won by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France.And the Manchester City striker, called a "goal machine" by Solbakken, will be one of the players to watch in North America after smashing in 16 goals during qualifying.The 25-year-old is averaging more than a goal a game for club and country this season and was typically ruthless when presented with his opportunities to both put Norway ahead and then double their lead in the 78th and 79th minutes.<h2>Norway sink Italy</h2>Pio Esposito opened the scoring for Italy in the 11th minute, but once Antonio Nusa levelled with a thumping strike in the 63rd minute, there was only one team who looked like winning, and Jorgen Strand Larsen's brilliant individual goal completed the rout in stoppage time.Italy will head to the play-offs in March after finishing the group six points behind Norway following two bracing defeats to Solbakken's team, and exited the San Siro field to a hail of whistles from the few home fans who had stayed until the end.Coach Gennaro Gattuso apologised to supporters during his short interview with public broadcaster RAI and was clearly concerned about the second half collapse."It's worrying, I'd be a liar to say that it doesn't concern me, because when you have nights like this it's much easier if you can stay together, improve the day to day," said Gattuso."What worries me is that we'll next see each other in three months' time."Italy's bid for direct qualification was compromised from their opening match against Norway, a 3-0 defeat which ended Luciano Spalletti's reign as coach.Since Gattuso took over, the Azzurri have performed better but there is no-one in their team of the class of Haaland, a shame for a country which has produced some of the game's best-ever players.Italy failed to qualify for the last two World Cups thanks to humiliating defeats in the play-offs to Sweden and North Macedonia, the latter coming less than a year after being crowned European champions in 2021.

Norway would have had to lose by nine goals or more in order to be overtaken by Italy for the group's only automatic place for next summer's finals in North America, but Stale Solbakken's side ended their campaign in glorious fashion.

Norway qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 after Erling Haaland struck again in a 4-1 thumping of Italy on Sunday which sealed a spot in next summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Haaland scored the decisive brace in the space of seconds at a soaking San Siro for Norway, who completed Group I with a perfect 24 points from their eight qualifying matches. Norway would have had to lose by nine goals or more in order to be overtaken by Italy for the group's only automatic place for next summer's finals in North America, but Stale Solbakken's side ended their campaign in glorious fashion in front of 70,000 people. Also Read - FIDE World Cup: Arjun carries India’s lone challenge after Harikrishna exits However, Solbakken was coy as to his powerful team's chances now that a 28-year weight has come to an end. "Let's see the draw first... I haven't even thought about it. For me, it (tonight) was to go from 99 percent to 100 percent and now we have done it in a great way," Solbakken told reporters. "Let's see what the draw brings before we go into those questions." Haaland's father Alf-Inge was still an international player when Norway last competed in the World Cup 27 years ago, a tournament won by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France. And the Manchester City striker, called a "goal machine" by Solbakken, will be one of the players to watch in North America after smashing in 16 goals during qualifying. The 25-year-old is averaging more than a goal a game for club and country this season and was typically ruthless when presented with his opportunities to both put Norway ahead and then double their lead in the 78th and 79th minutes. Norway sink Italy Pio Esposito opened the scoring for Italy in the 11th minute, but once Antonio Nusa levelled with a thumping strike in the 63rd minute, there was only one team who looked like winning, and Jorgen Strand Larsen's brilliant individual goal completed the rout in stoppage time. Italy will head to the play-offs in March after finishing the group six points behind Norway following two bracing defeats to Solbakken's team, and exited the San Siro field to a hail of whistles from the few home fans who had stayed until the end. Coach Gennaro Gattuso apologised to supporters during his short interview with public broadcaster RAI and was clearly concerned about the second half collapse. "It's worrying, I'd be a liar to say that it doesn't concern me, because when you have nights like this it's much easier if you can stay together, improve the day to day," said Gattuso. "What worries me is that we'll next see each other in three months' time." Italy's bid for direct qualification was compromised from their opening match against Norway, a 3-0 defeat which ended Luciano Spalletti's reign as coach. Since Gattuso took over, the Azzurri have performed better but there is no-one in their team of the class of Haaland, a shame for a country which has produced some of the game's best-ever players. Italy failed to qualify for the last two World Cups thanks to humiliating defeats in the play-offs to Sweden and North Macedonia, the latter coming less than a year after being crowned European champions in 2021.

Norway would have had to lose by nine goals or more in order to be overtaken by Italy for the group's only automatic place for next summer's finals in North America, but Stale Solbakken's side ended their campaign in glorious fashion.

Haaland helps Norway sink Italy for first FIFA World Cup berth since 1998

Italy’s dream of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take a decisive turn on Sunday (Nov 16) as they face group leaders Norway. In what will be a crucial clash for both Norway and Italy at the iconic San Siro, anything less than a win for the latter will see them enter the Playoffs for a third consecutive time. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details on how Italy could qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<h2>What are the current standings?</h2>Playing in Group I, Norway have a perfect record of seven wins out of seven and sit top of the pile. For Italy, they are second in the group, having picked up six wins from seven matches and their only defeat of the qualification came against Norway in the away fixture. Norway’s perfect record means they have 21 points with a goal difference of +29 from seven matches and Italy are on 18 points with a goal difference of +12 from the same number of matches.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>How can Italy qualify for the 2026 World Cup?</h2>As things stand, winners of Group I will directly qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while a runner-up spot guarantees a Playoff berth. Italy will have to win by a margin of nine goals against Norway at San Siro on Sunday, which is the only way they can take the top spot. A nine-goal win margin means Italy’s goal difference will rise to +21, while Norway's goal difference will drop to +20. This will mean that if Italy manage the impossible task, they will qualify for the FIFA World Cup ahead of Norway.&nbsp;This means that even a defeat for Norway with a small margin will see them qualify for the FIFA World Cup on goal difference.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a><h2>Playoff route</h2>If Gennaro Gattuso’s side fails to reach the FIFA World Cup directly, they will have another opportunity to reach the showpiece event through the Playoffs route. Since Italy are already guaranteed a top two finish, they will play in a Playoff contest comprising four teams in a path. These Playoff matches will be played in March over a single leg, with teams ranked higher in FIFA rankings hosting the matches. In this case, Italy will host both the Playoff semifinal and final with an opportunity to reach their first FIFA World Cup since the 2014 tournament.

Norway’s perfect record means they have 21 points with a goal difference of +29 from seven matches and Italy are on 18 points with a goal difference of +12 from the same number of matches.

Italy’s dream of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take a decisive turn on Sunday (Nov 16) as they face group leaders Norway. In what will be a crucial clash for both Norway and Italy at the iconic San Siro, anything less than a win for the latter will see them enter the Playoffs for a third consecutive time. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details on how Italy could qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What are the current standings? Playing in Group I, Norway have a perfect record of seven wins out of seven and sit top of the pile. For Italy, they are second in the group, having picked up six wins from seven matches and their only defeat of the qualification came against Norway in the away fixture. Norway’s perfect record means they have 21 points with a goal difference of +29 from seven matches and Italy are on 18 points with a goal difference of +12 from the same number of matches. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes How can Italy qualify for the 2026 World Cup? As things stand, winners of Group I will directly qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while a runner-up spot guarantees a Playoff berth. Italy will have to win by a margin of nine goals against Norway at San Siro on Sunday, which is the only way they can take the top spot. A nine-goal win margin means Italy’s goal difference will rise to +21, while Norway's goal difference will drop to +20. This will mean that if Italy manage the impossible task, they will qualify for the FIFA World Cup ahead of Norway. This means that even a defeat for Norway with a small margin will see them qualify for the FIFA World Cup on goal difference. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Playoff route If Gennaro Gattuso’s side fails to reach the FIFA World Cup directly, they will have another opportunity to reach the showpiece event through the Playoffs route. Since Italy are already guaranteed a top two finish, they will play in a Playoff contest comprising four teams in a path. These Playoff matches will be played in March over a single leg, with teams ranked higher in FIFA rankings hosting the matches. In this case, Italy will host both the Playoff semifinal and final with an opportunity to reach their first FIFA World Cup since the 2014 tournament.

Norway’s perfect record means they have 21 points with a goal difference of +29 from seven matches and Italy are on 18 points with a goal difference of +12 from the same number of matches.

Explained: Here's how Italy can qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup ahead of Norway clash

Scotland face a winner-takes-all shootout against Denmark on Tuesday with an automatic World Cup berth at stake despite a 3-2 defeat against Greece.&nbsp;On an evening of compelling drama on Saturday, Steve Clarke's men narrowly failed to recover from 3-0 down while Belarus held Group C leaders Denmark 2-2 in Copenhagen in a shock result.&nbsp;The Danes, with 11 points, lead Scotland by a single point after five matches ahead of their decisive meeting in Glasgow, though they have a far superior goal difference and can afford to draw.&nbsp;Scotland must secure all three points to reach their first World Cup since 1998. Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his team were relieved to still be alive.&nbsp;"Winner takes all on Tuesday, that's all we could ask for," he told the BBC. "People were writing us off from the start of the group. Now we've got a shootout to win the group and it's all to play for on Tuesday.&nbsp;"We heard the fans start cheering when we were 3-1 down which was a bit strange, but we didn't know what went on.&nbsp;"We're disappointed with the result today, but to have a final against Denmark at home, with a play-off still in the bag, what more can you ask for?"&nbsp;Scotland's men made a disastrous start in Piraeus, falling behind to an early goal from Anastasios Bakasetas, who sidestepped Grant Hanley before drilling home.&nbsp;Goalkeeper Craig Gordon kept his team in the match with a succession of sharp saves as Greece threatened to overwhelm the Scots, who looked desperately short of belief and intensity.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;The home team, who cannot qualify for the World Cup, could have been out of sight well before half-time but Clarke's team somehow weathered the storm and found their feet.&nbsp;Scott McTominay rattled the bar as the clock ticked over into stoppage time at the end of the first half while Che Adams headed narrowly wide and Ben Gannon-Doak squandered a glorious chance to level on the stroke of half-time.&nbsp;Adams missed another gilt-edged chance to level in the 53rd minute and four minutes later the Greeks caught Scotland out with a sucker punch.&nbsp;Andrews Tetteh raced down the left on the break, squaring for Konstantinos Karetsas, who produced a superb finish.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Christos Tzolis then beat Gordon with a powerful strike from range to make it 3-0.Gannon-Doak pulled a goal back for in the 65th minute and Ryan Christie nodded home Robertson's cross as news filtered through from Copenhagen that Belarus had come from behind to take the lead.&nbsp;But Scotland squandered a number of good chances, with McTominay and George Hirst going agonisingly close and Denmark found a late equaliser.&nbsp;However, it is all to play for at Hampden Park on Tuesday, with Scotland knowing if they miss out on automatic qualification, the play-offs loom.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Scotland must secure all three points to reach their first World Cup since 1998. Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his team were relieved to still be alive.

Scotland face a winner-takes-all shootout against Denmark on Tuesday with an automatic World Cup berth at stake despite a 3-2 defeat against Greece. On an evening of compelling drama on Saturday, Steve Clarke's men narrowly failed to recover from 3-0 down while Belarus held Group C leaders Denmark 2-2 in Copenhagen in a shock result. The Danes, with 11 points, lead Scotland by a single point after five matches ahead of their decisive meeting in Glasgow, though they have a far superior goal difference and can afford to draw. Scotland must secure all three points to reach their first World Cup since 1998. Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his team were relieved to still be alive. "Winner takes all on Tuesday, that's all we could ask for," he told the BBC. "People were writing us off from the start of the group. Now we've got a shootout to win the group and it's all to play for on Tuesday. "We heard the fans start cheering when we were 3-1 down which was a bit strange, but we didn't know what went on. "We're disappointed with the result today, but to have a final against Denmark at home, with a play-off still in the bag, what more can you ask for?" Scotland's men made a disastrous start in Piraeus, falling behind to an early goal from Anastasios Bakasetas, who sidestepped Grant Hanley before drilling home. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon kept his team in the match with a succession of sharp saves as Greece threatened to overwhelm the Scots, who looked desperately short of belief and intensity. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes The home team, who cannot qualify for the World Cup, could have been out of sight well before half-time but Clarke's team somehow weathered the storm and found their feet. Scott McTominay rattled the bar as the clock ticked over into stoppage time at the end of the first half while Che Adams headed narrowly wide and Ben Gannon-Doak squandered a glorious chance to level on the stroke of half-time. Adams missed another gilt-edged chance to level in the 53rd minute and four minutes later the Greeks caught Scotland out with a sucker punch. Andrews Tetteh raced down the left on the break, squaring for Konstantinos Karetsas, who produced a superb finish. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Christos Tzolis then beat Gordon with a powerful strike from range to make it 3-0. Gannon-Doak pulled a goal back for in the 65th minute and Ryan Christie nodded home Robertson's cross as news filtered through from Copenhagen that Belarus had come from behind to take the lead. But Scotland squandered a number of good chances, with McTominay and George Hirst going agonisingly close and Denmark found a late equaliser. However, it is all to play for at Hampden Park on Tuesday, with Scotland knowing if they miss out on automatic qualification, the play-offs loom. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Scotland must secure all three points to reach their first World Cup since 1998. Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his team were relieved to still be alive.

FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers: Scotland face shootout against Denmark after Greece defeat

Croatia booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in North America with an unconvincing 3-1 win over the in-form Faroe Islands on Friday as the Netherlands all but booked their spot in the finals too.&nbsp;Germany's qualification hopes still rest on their final Group A match on Monday at home to Slovakia despite a Nick Woltemade brace giving them a laboured 2-0 win at Luxembourg.&nbsp;After Geza David Turi had given the Faroes a shock lead, strikes from Josko Gvardiol, Petar Musa and Nikola Vlasic in Rijeka handed 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia their ticket to the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.&nbsp;Victory gave Croatia a six point lead over the Czech Republic at the top of Group L with just a single game left to play.&nbsp;"For Croatia, for the fans!" a jubilant Gvardiol posted on his X account.&nbsp;But it was a night when the underdogs struck fear into more illustrious opponents, although without managing to strike a telling blow.&nbsp;The Faroes, who were on a three-match winning run and still harboured faint hopes of qualification, had the audacity to take the lead against opponents who only needed a draw to progress.&nbsp;Turi picked up the ball just inside the Croatia half and strode forwards unmolested before trying his luck from outside the box and benefiting from a heavy deflection to beat Dominik Livakovic in the Croatia goal on 16 minutes.&nbsp;The lead lasted only seven minutes before Manchester City defender Gvardiol lashed in an equaliser after some hesitant Faroes defending.&nbsp;With the evergreen Luka Modric still pulling the strings in Croatia's midfield at 40 on the occasion of his 193rd cap, the hosts gradually took control.&nbsp;And 12 minutes into the second half, Musa fired in at the near post to settle Croatian nerves.&nbsp;With the Faroes' hopes of becoming the smallest ever nation to reach a World Cup fading fast, Vlasic drove the knife in deeper still 20 minutes from time with a cushioned volley to beat goalkeeper Mathias Lamhauge, who had strayed into no-man's land.<h2>Depay maintains Dutch lead</h2>Memphis Depay's Dutch record-extending 55th international goal helped push the Netherlands to the brink of qualification with a 1-1 draw in Poland.&nbsp;Jakub Kaminski had given Poland hope of pipping Netherlands to top spot in Group G two minutes before the break in Warsaw, latching onto Robert Lewandowski's through ball to slot past Bart Verbruggen in the Dutch goal.&nbsp;But two minutes after the restart, Depay struck to maintain the Netherlands' three-point lead at the top of the group, and a massive goal difference advantage of 13 that makes qualification at home to Lithuania on Monday a formality.&nbsp;In Group A, plucky Luxembourg gave Germany plenty of scares in a goalless first half before Newcastle forward Woltemade bagged a second-half brace to keep Germany top of the pool.&nbsp;"I know it wasn't a pretty game but we gave our all, pushed hard and got the three points," Woltemade told Germany's RTL network.&nbsp;The four-time world champions need only a point at home to Slovakia on Monday to book their ticket to the World Cup.&nbsp;Their nearest rivals, Slovakia, had two goals chalked off by VAR but Tomas Bobcek struck in injury time in Kosice to snatch a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland.&nbsp;Slovakia, though, must win in Germany on Monday to top the group and avoid the play-offs.&nbsp;Elsewhere, Liam Jessop's 20th-minute strike threatened to give Gibraltar a first ever victory -- or even draw -- in a major tournament qualification match, but Vasilije Adzic and Nikola Krstovic ensured Montenegro avoided a shock defeat to triumph 2-1 in Group L.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Germany's qualification hopes still rest on their final Group A match on Monday at home to Slovakia despite a Nick Woltemade brace giving them a laboured 2-0 win at Luxembourg.

Croatia booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in North America with an unconvincing 3-1 win over the in-form Faroe Islands on Friday as the Netherlands all but booked their spot in the finals too. Germany's qualification hopes still rest on their final Group A match on Monday at home to Slovakia despite a Nick Woltemade brace giving them a laboured 2-0 win at Luxembourg. After Geza David Turi had given the Faroes a shock lead, strikes from Josko Gvardiol, Petar Musa and Nikola Vlasic in Rijeka handed 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia their ticket to the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Victory gave Croatia a six point lead over the Czech Republic at the top of Group L with just a single game left to play. "For Croatia, for the fans!" a jubilant Gvardiol posted on his X account. But it was a night when the underdogs struck fear into more illustrious opponents, although without managing to strike a telling blow. The Faroes, who were on a three-match winning run and still harboured faint hopes of qualification, had the audacity to take the lead against opponents who only needed a draw to progress. Turi picked up the ball just inside the Croatia half and strode forwards unmolested before trying his luck from outside the box and benefiting from a heavy deflection to beat Dominik Livakovic in the Croatia goal on 16 minutes. The lead lasted only seven minutes before Manchester City defender Gvardiol lashed in an equaliser after some hesitant Faroes defending. With the evergreen Luka Modric still pulling the strings in Croatia's midfield at 40 on the occasion of his 193rd cap, the hosts gradually took control. And 12 minutes into the second half, Musa fired in at the near post to settle Croatian nerves. With the Faroes' hopes of becoming the smallest ever nation to reach a World Cup fading fast, Vlasic drove the knife in deeper still 20 minutes from time with a cushioned volley to beat goalkeeper Mathias Lamhauge, who had strayed into no-man's land. Depay maintains Dutch lead Memphis Depay's Dutch record-extending 55th international goal helped push the Netherlands to the brink of qualification with a 1-1 draw in Poland. Jakub Kaminski had given Poland hope of pipping Netherlands to top spot in Group G two minutes before the break in Warsaw, latching onto Robert Lewandowski's through ball to slot past Bart Verbruggen in the Dutch goal. But two minutes after the restart, Depay struck to maintain the Netherlands' three-point lead at the top of the group, and a massive goal difference advantage of 13 that makes qualification at home to Lithuania on Monday a formality. In Group A, plucky Luxembourg gave Germany plenty of scares in a goalless first half before Newcastle forward Woltemade bagged a second-half brace to keep Germany top of the pool. "I know it wasn't a pretty game but we gave our all, pushed hard and got the three points," Woltemade told Germany's RTL network. The four-time world champions need only a point at home to Slovakia on Monday to book their ticket to the World Cup. Their nearest rivals, Slovakia, had two goals chalked off by VAR but Tomas Bobcek struck in injury time in Kosice to snatch a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland. Slovakia, though, must win in Germany on Monday to top the group and avoid the play-offs. Elsewhere, Liam Jessop's 20th-minute strike threatened to give Gibraltar a first ever victory -- or even draw -- in a major tournament qualification match, but Vasilije Adzic and Nikola Krstovic ensured Montenegro avoided a shock defeat to triumph 2-1 in Group L. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Germany's qualification hopes still rest on their final Group A match on Monday at home to Slovakia despite a Nick Woltemade brace giving them a laboured 2-0 win at Luxembourg.

FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers: Croatia qualify with ease; Netherlands close in, Germany in limbo

Controversial Spanish administrator Luis Rubiales is yet again in the spotlight after he was pelted with eggs during a book presentation on Thursday (Nov 13). Rubiales, in the spotlight for kissing Spanish female footballer Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup presentation, has been convicted for his offenses. However, Thursday’s incident has yet again seen him make headlines, where he was egged.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Eggs where thrown at former RFEF President Luis Rubiales during the presentation of his book. <a href="https://t.co/CZ9NZCcVWt">pic.twitter.com/CZ9NZCcVWt</a>&mdash; Football Xtra™ (@FootballXtra0) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballXtra0/status/1989055255171203090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Rubiales back in headlines</h2>In August 2023, while he was the head of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), Rubiales forcefully kissed Hermoso during the presentation where he was one of the guests of honours. Spain had earlier beaten England in the final, which saw them lift their maiden title in the Women’s department. He has since been convicted and fined €10,800.&nbsp;On Thursday, while he was in attendance and sitting on the podium during the presentation, his book “Matar a Rubiales“ (Killing Rubiales), one of the audience sitting in the back row started pelting eggs at him. Despite having limited capacity in the presentation hall, the attack came as a surprise to many.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;In retaliation, Rubiales got off his seat and rushed towards the attacker before others came to rescue. Later, it was discovered that the person throwing eggs at Rubiales was his own uncle and the confirmation of the same was given by the former Spanish football chief.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;“I’ve found out he was my own uncle, Luis Ruben, he’s called. An uncle who is my age,” Rubiales told news portal Periodista Digital. “He threw eggs at me because he’s a deranged person, and I don’t think there’s any justification for it. They’ve arrested him, they’ve taken him away and, well, we’ll have to take action against him because I honestly thought he was armed.”&nbsp;While no action has been escalated for the incident, it will be interesting to see how Rubiales responds to the latest incident.

On Thursday, while he was in attendance and sitting on the podium during the presentation, his book “Matar a Rubiales“ (Killing Rubiales), one of the audience sitting in the back row started pelting eggs at him. 

Controversial Spanish administrator Luis Rubiales is yet again in the spotlight after he was pelted with eggs during a book presentation on Thursday (Nov 13). Rubiales, in the spotlight for kissing Spanish female footballer Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup presentation, has been convicted for his offenses. However, Thursday’s incident has yet again seen him make headlines, where he was egged.

On Thursday, while he was in attendance and sitting on the podium during the presentation, his book “Matar a Rubiales“ (Killing Rubiales), one of the audience sitting in the back row started pelting eggs at him.&nbsp;

Watch: Luis Rubiales, controversial Spanish football administrator, pelted with eggs during book presentation

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the star Portugal forward received a direct red while playing in the penultimate qualifier on Thursday (Nov 13). Playing in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, a direct red card has put Ronaldo’s involvement in the main tournament in question. As a result of the red card, Ronaldo’s Portugal also lost 2-0 to the Republic of Ireland and now need a flawless performance in the final qualifier on Sunday.&nbsp;<h2>Ronaldo likely to miss World Cup opener</h2>Playing from the start, Ronaldo was found guilty of a challenge on Ireland defender Dara O'Shea off the ball. The challenge was initially deemed reckless but enough for a yellow card only; however, the referee was alerted for a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check. Ronaldo was found guilty of a red card offence and his yellow card was cancelled out before being sent off.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to FIFA's Disciplinary Code, Chapter 2, Article 14(i) says that if a player is sent off for "assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent," they should serve a three-game ban.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;If the above rule is brought into effect, the Portugal captain could serve a three-match ban. In case the defending Nations League champions qualify for the World Cup through the group stage on Sunday, Ronaldo will miss the opening two matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old forward will be suspended for the final qualifier on Sunday and will serve the remaining two matches during the World Cup, as suspension from competitive matches is only served in competitive matches, meaning Ronaldo won’t serve suspensions in international friendly matches during the March international break and pre-tournament friendlies in May and June.&nbsp;A decision on the length of the Portugal captain's ban will be made by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee soon.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>How Ronaldo can avoid World Cup suspension?</h2>In case suspended for only one match, that suspension will be served in the final World Cup qualifier against Armenia on Sunday. However, a three-match ban could make things complicated. In case of a three-match ban, Ronaldo’s Portugal must lose to Armenia on Sunday while either Hungary (any margin) or Ireland (by at least four goals) win in the final qualifier.&nbsp;This would mean Portugal will settle for a place in the Playoffs and will have to play two more competitive matches. Ronaldo will, in turn, serve his remaining two matches of suspension during the Playoffs, meaning he will be cleared for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in case Portugal qualify through the Playoffs route. However, if the three-match suspension stands and Ronaldo’s Portugal qualifies as group winners, the 40-year-old will miss the World Cup opening matches.

According to FIFA's Disciplinary Code, Chapter 2, Article 14(i) says that if a player is sent off for "assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent," they should serve a three-game ban.

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the star Portugal forward received a direct red while playing in the penultimate qualifier on Thursday (Nov 13). Playing in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, a direct red card has put Ronaldo’s involvement in the main tournament in question. As a result of the red card, Ronaldo’s Portugal also lost 2-0 to the Republic of Ireland and now need a flawless performance in the final qualifier on Sunday. Ronaldo likely to miss World Cup opener Playing from the start, Ronaldo was found guilty of a challenge on Ireland defender Dara O'Shea off the ball. The challenge was initially deemed reckless but enough for a yellow card only; however, the referee was alerted for a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check. Ronaldo was found guilty of a red card offence and his yellow card was cancelled out before being sent off. According to FIFA's Disciplinary Code, Chapter 2, Article 14(i) says that if a player is sent off for "assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent," they should serve a three-game ban. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes If the above rule is brought into effect, the Portugal captain could serve a three-match ban. In case the defending Nations League champions qualify for the World Cup through the group stage on Sunday, Ronaldo will miss the opening two matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old forward will be suspended for the final qualifier on Sunday and will serve the remaining two matches during the World Cup, as suspension from competitive matches is only served in competitive matches, meaning Ronaldo won’t serve suspensions in international friendly matches during the March international break and pre-tournament friendlies in May and June. A decision on the length of the Portugal captain's ban will be made by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee soon. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes How Ronaldo can avoid World Cup suspension? In case suspended for only one match, that suspension will be served in the final World Cup qualifier against Armenia on Sunday. However, a three-match ban could make things complicated. In case of a three-match ban, Ronaldo’s Portugal must lose to Armenia on Sunday while either Hungary (any margin) or Ireland (by at least four goals) win in the final qualifier. This would mean Portugal will settle for a place in the Playoffs and will have to play two more competitive matches. Ronaldo will, in turn, serve his remaining two matches of suspension during the Playoffs, meaning he will be cleared for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in case Portugal qualify through the Playoffs route. However, if the three-match suspension stands and Ronaldo’s Portugal qualifies as group winners, the 40-year-old will miss the World Cup opening matches.

According to FIFA's Disciplinary Code, Chapter 2, Article 14(i) says that if a player is sent off for "assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent," they should serve a three-game ban.

Here's why Cristiano Ronaldo could be suspended for opening match of 2026 FIFA World Cup

France reached the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine on Thursday as the country marked the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks, while Portugal were made to wait after losing 2-0 in Dublin as Cristiano Ronaldo saw red.&nbsp;Norway must also be patient after Italy struck late in Moldova to prevent them from stamping their ticket to next year's tournament in North America.&nbsp;France's victory came in an emotionally-charged Parc des Princes, which observed a minute's silence to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks in and around Paris on Friday, November 13, 2015.&nbsp;Most of the 130 people killed in the attacks lost their lives at the Bataclan concert hall in the capital, where they were attending a concert.&nbsp;But one person died near the Stade de France in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, where multiple explosions took place as suicide bombers attempted to enter the ground during a friendly between Les Bleus and Germany.&nbsp;Didier Deschamps was the coach then and remains in charge now, with the approaching World Cup to be his final tournament before stepping down.&nbsp;"Given the context tonight, we are pleased to have put some smiles on faces by securing qualification," said Deschamps.&nbsp;"We have fulfilled our objective. I understand that it is seen as normal that France qualify but we still had to go out and do it, so we are very proud."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Second-half goals by Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, as well as a first international strike for Hugo Ekitike, gave Deschamps' side an unassailable six-point lead over both Iceland, who beat Azerbaijan 2-0, and Ukraine at the top of Group D.&nbsp;While France can now look forward to the draw for the finals, which takes place in Washington, DC, on December 5, Ukraine and Iceland meet each other on Sunday in a shoot-out to decide who continues on into the play-offs next March.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>Sad, disappointed</h2>Portugal would have secured top spot in Group F with a win against the Republic of Ireland.&nbsp;But a Ronaldo red card for violent conduct when trailing 2-0 to a Troy Parrott brace meant Portugal remain on 10 points, three ahead of the Irish and two ahead of Hungary, who won 1-0 against Armenia.&nbsp;Portugal's final group match will be against Armenia in Porto on Sunday, while Hungary welcome Ireland in what will likely be a clash for second place.&nbsp;Parrott headed the hosts into the lead on 17 minutes, before doubling up on the stroke of half-time.&nbsp;Ireland then dug in deep to frustrate their fancied opponents, whose task effectively became insurmountable when 40-year-old Ronaldo swung an elbow into Dara O'Shea's back and was dismissed after a VAR review.&nbsp;Ronaldo, the men's all-time top goalscorer in international football, could potentially miss the start of the World Cup if Portugal qualify, depending on the length of his ban."We didn't manage (to win), we're sad and disappointed with what we did here today," Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva said.&nbsp;Despite romping to an Erling Haaland-inspired 4-1 win over Estonia, Norway will also have to wait until the final matchday to wrap up their berth at the World Cup.&nbsp;Forwards Alexander Sorloth and Haaland both netted doubles in the space of 12 second-half minutes earlier in Oslo, but the Norwegians had to wait on Italy's later match against Moldova before they could be certain of topping Group I.&nbsp;The Moldovans looked to have done enough to send Stale Solbakken's side to the finals, until Gianluca Mancini struck on 88 minutes to send Italy on the way to a victory that kept their automatic qualification hopes alive.&nbsp;Inter Milan forward Pio Esposito doubled Italy's lead in injury time to ensure Sunday's meeting between the Italians and Norway at the San Siro will be a blockbuster.&nbsp;Three points separate the pair but Norway hold an imposing head-to-head record over Italy after cruising to a 3-0 win in their encounter in June.&nbsp;"It wasn't easy... We also knew that Norway had won, so it was a bit of a strange atmosphere," Sandro Tonali told Sky Sport Italia.&nbsp;"It would mean a lot to us (to beat Norway), because it might not heal the wound, but it will help us push forward."&nbsp;In Group K, already-qualified England beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley courtesy of goals by Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, while Albania edged Andorra 1-0 to sew up second spot.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Norway must also be patient after Italy struck late in Moldova to prevent them from stamping their ticket to next year's tournament in North America.

France reached the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine on Thursday as the country marked the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks, while Portugal were made to wait after losing 2-0 in Dublin as Cristiano Ronaldo saw red. Norway must also be patient after Italy struck late in Moldova to prevent them from stamping their ticket to next year's tournament in North America. France's victory came in an emotionally-charged Parc des Princes, which observed a minute's silence to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks in and around Paris on Friday, November 13, 2015. Most of the 130 people killed in the attacks lost their lives at the Bataclan concert hall in the capital, where they were attending a concert. But one person died near the Stade de France in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, where multiple explosions took place as suicide bombers attempted to enter the ground during a friendly between Les Bleus and Germany. Didier Deschamps was the coach then and remains in charge now, with the approaching World Cup to be his final tournament before stepping down. "Given the context tonight, we are pleased to have put some smiles on faces by securing qualification," said Deschamps. "We have fulfilled our objective. I understand that it is seen as normal that France qualify but we still had to go out and do it, so we are very proud." ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Second-half goals by Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, as well as a first international strike for Hugo Ekitike, gave Deschamps' side an unassailable six-point lead over both Iceland, who beat Azerbaijan 2-0, and Ukraine at the top of Group D. While France can now look forward to the draw for the finals, which takes place in Washington, DC, on December 5, Ukraine and Iceland meet each other on Sunday in a shoot-out to decide who continues on into the play-offs next March. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Sad, disappointed Portugal would have secured top spot in Group F with a win against the Republic of Ireland. But a Ronaldo red card for violent conduct when trailing 2-0 to a Troy Parrott brace meant Portugal remain on 10 points, three ahead of the Irish and two ahead of Hungary, who won 1-0 against Armenia. Portugal's final group match will be against Armenia in Porto on Sunday, while Hungary welcome Ireland in what will likely be a clash for second place. Parrott headed the hosts into the lead on 17 minutes, before doubling up on the stroke of half-time. Ireland then dug in deep to frustrate their fancied opponents, whose task effectively became insurmountable when 40-year-old Ronaldo swung an elbow into Dara O'Shea's back and was dismissed after a VAR review. Ronaldo, the men's all-time top goalscorer in international football, could potentially miss the start of the World Cup if Portugal qualify, depending on the length of his ban. "We didn't manage (to win), we're sad and disappointed with what we did here today," Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva said. Despite romping to an Erling Haaland-inspired 4-1 win over Estonia, Norway will also have to wait until the final matchday to wrap up their berth at the World Cup. Forwards Alexander Sorloth and Haaland both netted doubles in the space of 12 second-half minutes earlier in Oslo, but the Norwegians had to wait on Italy's later match against Moldova before they could be certain of topping Group I. The Moldovans looked to have done enough to send Stale Solbakken's side to the finals, until Gianluca Mancini struck on 88 minutes to send Italy on the way to a victory that kept their automatic qualification hopes alive. Inter Milan forward Pio Esposito doubled Italy's lead in injury time to ensure Sunday's meeting between the Italians and Norway at the San Siro will be a blockbuster. Three points separate the pair but Norway hold an imposing head-to-head record over Italy after cruising to a 3-0 win in their encounter in June. "It wasn't easy... We also knew that Norway had won, so it was a bit of a strange atmosphere," Sandro Tonali told Sky Sport Italia. "It would mean a lot to us (to beat Norway), because it might not heal the wound, but it will help us push forward." In Group K, already-qualified England beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley courtesy of goals by Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, while Albania edged Andorra 1-0 to sew up second spot. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Norway must also be patient after Italy struck late in Moldova to prevent them from stamping their ticket to next year's tournament in North America.

FIFA World Cup qualifiers: France qualify for as Portugal, Norway forced to wait

&nbsp;Legendary Manchester United pair David Beckham and Gary Neville are set to visit India as they promote their English football side, Salford City FC, in an event. Neville and Beckham, who co-own the club along with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville, are set for the promotion tour, just a month before Lionel Messi’s India visit. The club, which plays in the fourth tier of English football, has been owned by Manchester United’s former star players since 2014 and has been on a meteoric rise since.<h2>Beckham, Neville to visit India</h2>“Global partners play a vital role in helping us grow Salford City Football Club and connect with new audiences. This collaboration brings together two ambitious organisations united by a vision to elevate global sporting experiences. We’re excited for this opportunity with DreamSetGo to continue building Salford City’s international presence in the years ahead,” Neville said while speaking on the collaboration.&nbsp;With the backing of DreamSetGo — a company known for creating premium sports experiences — the club hopes to expand its recognition in new markets, particularly in India, where football fandom has grown exponentially over the past decade.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Since taking over the club, Salford has been on the rise in English football. Last season, Salford finished seventh in the League 2 standings and narrowly missed out on a Playoff spot. The club is pushing for promotion and could soon become a top-flight Premier League side.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Beckham’s visit to India will be his first since the 2023 ODI World Cup, when he was in the nation. He attended the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand as Virat Kohli scored his 51st ODI ton. India won the match and booked their place in the World Cup before losing to Australia. Beckham was seen sharing moments with Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar before the match in his last visit.

David Beckham attended the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand as Virat Kohli scored his 51st ODI ton. India won the match and booked their place in the World Cup before losing to Australia.

Legendary Manchester United pair David Beckham and Gary Neville are set to visit India as they promote their English football side, Salford City FC, in an event. Neville and Beckham, who co-own the club along with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville, are set for the promotion tour, just a month before Lionel Messi’s India visit. The club, which plays in the fourth tier of English football, has been owned by Manchester United’s former star players since 2014 and has been on a meteoric rise since. Beckham, Neville to visit India “Global partners play a vital role in helping us grow Salford City Football Club and connect with new audiences. This collaboration brings together two ambitious organisations united by a vision to elevate global sporting experiences. We’re excited for this opportunity with DreamSetGo to continue building Salford City’s international presence in the years ahead,” Neville said while speaking on the collaboration. With the backing of DreamSetGo — a company known for creating premium sports experiences — the club hopes to expand its recognition in new markets, particularly in India, where football fandom has grown exponentially over the past decade. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Since taking over the club, Salford has been on the rise in English football. Last season, Salford finished seventh in the League 2 standings and narrowly missed out on a Playoff spot. The club is pushing for promotion and could soon become a top-flight Premier League side. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Beckham’s visit to India will be his first since the 2023 ODI World Cup, when he was in the nation. He attended the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand as Virat Kohli scored his 51st ODI ton. India won the match and booked their place in the World Cup before losing to Australia. Beckham was seen sharing moments with Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar before the match in his last visit.

David Beckham attended the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand as Virat Kohli scored his 51st ODI ton. India won the match and booked their place in the World Cup before losing to Australia.

Former Man Utd teammates and Salford co-owners David Beckham, Gary Neville to visit India

With less than eight months to go for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the race for a spot in the 48-team tournament is heating up as some of the top high-profile teams look to put their name in the hat. While England remain the only European side to seal qualification so far, they could soon be joined by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Germany and other teams. So who can seal qualification and who will punch their tickets to North America for football’s biggest carnival?<h2>Who can qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup?</h2>As things stand, England could soon be joined by Portugal, Germany, Croatia and others. Germany can guarantee at least a Playoff spot if they beat Luxembourg and Northern Ireland fail to defeat Slovakia in the latest qualifiers. They can seal qualification if they win their two qualifiers and Slovakia and Northern Ireland drop points.&nbsp;If Switzerland beat Sweden and Kosovo drop points against Slovenia, the former will seal a World Cup spot. In a similar run-in, if France beat Ukraine, they will officially qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Similarly, Spain and Portugal are also a win away from punching their tickets for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Interestingly, Italy will have to enter the Playoffs for the third consecutive time if they fail to beat Moldova and Norway beat Estonia, as the latter sits in pole position. Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and third-place finishers in 2022, need a solitary point against the Faroe Islands.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>Key fixtures during latest international break</h2>Thursday (Nov 13)Norway vs EstoniaFrance vs UkraineMoldova vs Italy&nbsp;Friday (Nov 14)Luxembourg vs GermanyCroatia vs Faroe Islands&nbsp;Saturday (Nov 15)Georgia vs SpainSlovenia vs KosovoSwitzerland vs Sweden

As things stand, England could soon be joined by Portugal, Germany, Croatia and others. Germany can guarantee at least a Playoff spot if they beat Luxembourg and Northern Ireland fail to defeat Slovakia in the latest qualifiers. 

With less than eight months to go for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the race for a spot in the 48-team tournament is heating up as some of the top high-profile teams look to put their name in the hat. While England remain the only European side to seal qualification so far, they could soon be joined by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Germany and other teams. So who can seal qualification and who will punch their tickets to North America for football’s biggest carnival? Who can qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup? As things stand, England could soon be joined by Portugal, Germany, Croatia and others. Germany can guarantee at least a Playoff spot if they beat Luxembourg and Northern Ireland fail to defeat Slovakia in the latest qualifiers. They can seal qualification if they win their two qualifiers and Slovakia and Northern Ireland drop points. If Switzerland beat Sweden and Kosovo drop points against Slovenia, the former will seal a World Cup spot. In a similar run-in, if France beat Ukraine, they will officially qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Similarly, Spain and Portugal are also a win away from punching their tickets for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Interestingly, Italy will have to enter the Playoffs for the third consecutive time if they fail to beat Moldova and Norway beat Estonia, as the latter sits in pole position. Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and third-place finishers in 2022, need a solitary point against the Faroe Islands. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Key fixtures during latest international break Thursday (Nov 13) Norway vs Estonia France vs Ukraine Moldova vs Italy Friday (Nov 14) Luxembourg vs Germany Croatia vs Faroe Islands Saturday (Nov 15) Georgia vs Spain Slovenia vs Kosovo Switzerland vs Sweden

As things stand, England could soon be joined by Portugal, Germany, Croatia and others. Germany can guarantee at least a Playoff spot if they beat Luxembourg and Northern Ireland fail to defeat Slovakia in the latest qualifiers.&nbsp;

FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Ronaldo's Portugal a step away from qualification, but who else can join them? Know More

In a shocking turn of events, Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has put 1,024 players under suspension and arrested eight players amid ongoing investigation into alleged betting on the matches. The move was announced on Monday (Nov 11), says after the TFF suspended 149 referees as well. The players are from all the leagues in the country including 27 from Super Lig - the highest level professional football league in the country. Among the arrested people is Murat Ozkaya, chairman of Eyupspor - a club in top flight Super Lig.<h2>Turkey suspends over 1,000 players over betting allegation</h2>The 27 players who have been suspended from Super Lig, are from champions Galatasaray and Istanbul rivals Besiktas - highlight the depth of crisis Turkish Football is dealing with.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ferrari-president-asks-hamilton-to-focus-on-driving-and-talk-less-after-driver-s-nightmare-jibe-post-sao-paulo-grand-prix-1762847718775">Ferrari president asks Hamilton to 'focus on driving and talk less' after driver's 'nightmare' jibe post Sao Paulo Grand Prix</a>“Due to the precautionary transfer of 1,024 football players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK_, negotiations have been initiated urgently with Fifa to grant a 15-day transfer and registration period in addition to the 2025-2026 winter transfer period, only at the national level, in order for clubs to complete their squad deficiencies,” the TFF said in a statement issued.FIFA, world's apex football body, however, is yet to comment or take an action on the TFF's request as of now.<h2>Second and third-tier leagues suspended</h2>The federation has also suspended second and third-tier leagues in the country for two weeks in the wake of the ongoing investigation. Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, the president of Turkish Football Federation, has called the current situation "moral crisis in Turkish football."Before the arrests and suspension of players, the league, in its own investigation, had found 371 of 571 active referees with betting accounts and about 152 of them were actively gambling.

The federation has also suspended second and third-tier leagues in the country for two weeks in the wake of the ongoing investigation. Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, the president of Turkish Football Federation, has called the current situation "moral crisis in Turkish football."

In a shocking turn of events, Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has put 1,024 players under suspension and arrested eight players amid ongoing investigation into alleged betting on the matches. The move was announced on Monday (Nov 11), says after the TFF suspended 149 referees as well. The players are from all the leagues in the country including 27 from Super Lig - the highest level professional football league in the country. Among the arrested people is Murat Ozkaya, chairman of Eyupspor - a club in top flight Super Lig. Turkey suspends over 1,000 players over betting allegation The 27 players who have been suspended from Super Lig, are from champions Galatasaray and Istanbul rivals Besiktas - highlight the depth of crisis Turkish Football is dealing with. Also Read - Ferrari president asks Hamilton to 'focus on driving and talk less' after driver's 'nightmare' jibe post Sao Paulo Grand Prix “Due to the precautionary transfer of 1,024 football players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK_, negotiations have been initiated urgently with Fifa to grant a 15-day transfer and registration period in addition to the 2025-2026 winter transfer period, only at the national level, in order for clubs to complete their squad deficiencies,” the TFF said in a statement issued. FIFA, world's apex football body, however, is yet to comment or take an action on the TFF's request as of now. Second and third-tier leagues suspended The federation has also suspended second and third-tier leagues in the country for two weeks in the wake of the ongoing investigation. Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, the president of Turkish Football Federation, has called the current situation "moral crisis in Turkish football." Before the arrests and suspension of players, the league, in its own investigation, had found 371 of 571 active referees with betting accounts and about 152 of them were actively gambling.

The federation has also suspended second and third-tier leagues in the country for two weeks in the wake of the ongoing investigation. Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, the president of Turkish Football Federation, has called the current situation "moral crisis in Turkish football."

Turkish Football Federation suspends 1,024 players and arrests eight people in alleged betting investigation

Norwegian forward Andreas Schjelderup, who plays for Benfica, will plead guilty in Denmark after sharing a video of a sexual nature that included minors, Norway's football association announced Monday.&nbsp;Danish media reported that the footballer was suspected of sharing a 27-second video via social media.&nbsp;"Schjelderup made a mistake, a very serious mistake, for which he is criminally liable," the head of the Norwegian football association, Lisa Klaveness told reporters.&nbsp;She added that he would plead guilty at a hearing at a Danish court on November 19.&nbsp;The 21-year-old striker apologised on Saturday evening in a post to Instagram, admitting to having made a "stupid mistake" two years ago while playing for Danish club Nordsjaelland.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;"I received a short video and forwarded it to my friend a few seconds later, without thinking clearly," he said.&nbsp;"I only saw the first few seconds and not what the video developed into. My friend, after having seen it a few seconds later, reminded me directly that it was, of course, illegal to send, so I deleted it immediately," Schjelderup added.&nbsp;Danish police only confirmed the date of the hearing, when asked by AFP.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Under Danish law, sharing sexual images involving children is punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison.&nbsp;According to Danish media reports, Schjelderup is expected to receive a suspended sentence.&nbsp;The left winger has been selected to play for Norway on Thursday against Estonia, a crucial match which could see the Scandinavian country qualify for next year's World Cup -- a first in 28 years.&nbsp;"We are firmly convinced that there is no need to impose an additional penalty," Klaveness said.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Under Danish law, sharing sexual images involving children is punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison. According to Danish media reports, Andreas Schjelderup is expected to receive a suspended sentence.

Norwegian forward Andreas Schjelderup, who plays for Benfica, will plead guilty in Denmark after sharing a video of a sexual nature that included minors, Norway's football association announced Monday. Danish media reported that the footballer was suspected of sharing a 27-second video via social media. "Schjelderup made a mistake, a very serious mistake, for which he is criminally liable," the head of the Norwegian football association, Lisa Klaveness told reporters. She added that he would plead guilty at a hearing at a Danish court on November 19. The 21-year-old striker apologised on Saturday evening in a post to Instagram, admitting to having made a "stupid mistake" two years ago while playing for Danish club Nordsjaelland. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes "I received a short video and forwarded it to my friend a few seconds later, without thinking clearly," he said. "I only saw the first few seconds and not what the video developed into. My friend, after having seen it a few seconds later, reminded me directly that it was, of course, illegal to send, so I deleted it immediately," Schjelderup added. Danish police only confirmed the date of the hearing, when asked by AFP. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Under Danish law, sharing sexual images involving children is punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison. According to Danish media reports, Schjelderup is expected to receive a suspended sentence. The left winger has been selected to play for Norway on Thursday against Estonia, a crucial match which could see the Scandinavian country qualify for next year's World Cup -- a first in 28 years. "We are firmly convinced that there is no need to impose an additional penalty," Klaveness said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Under Danish law, sharing sexual images involving children is punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison. According to Danish media reports, Andreas Schjelderup is expected to receive a suspended sentence.

Norway forward Andreas Schjelderup to plead guilty to sharing sexual video of minor

Taylor Fritz got his bid for a first ATP Finals crown off to the best possible start with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4 win over home favourite Lorenzo Musetti in Turin on Monday.&nbsp;The 28-year-old American, who lost in last year's final to Jannik Sinner, was out of the blocks quickly in the Jimmy Connors group match, taking an early break and holding on to pocket the first set.&nbsp;The crowd did their best to lift a visibly fatigued Musetti who was a late addition to the line-up.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;He only qualified for the Finals on Saturday after Novak Djokovic pulled out with injury, shortly after beating the Italian in the final of the Athens event.&nbsp;Winning 84 percent of his first serves and giving away just four break point chances, none of which were taken, Fritz continued to control the match.&nbsp;The American broke to go 3-1 up and served cleanly all the way to the line.&nbsp;"I am really happy. I thought I did a lot of things really well," Fritz said.&nbsp;"I did a great job early on in the match to serve my way out of trouble and save some break points. The whole second set I played well and had a lot of chances to break that I didn’t get.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;"I am really happy I was able to serve it out there and it didn’t come back to ruin it."&nbsp;Fritz qualified sixth for the Finals and after finishing runner-up last year is gearing up for another tilt at the title.&nbsp;"Every time I come here, I like the conditions and it is very easy to get motivated and fired up," said Fritz.&nbsp;"You can lock in, it is the last tournament of the year and it is the ATP Finals, it's a big deal.”&nbsp;Neither player will have time to rest as both are back on court on Tuesday.&nbsp;Fritz faces Carlos Alcaraz who also got off to a winning start by beating Alex de Minaur on Sunday while Musetti takes on the Australian.&nbsp;Later on Monday, Sinner takes on the Canadian Felix Auger-Alissime in the Bjorn Borg group.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Taylor Fritz, who lost in last year's final to Jannik Sinner, was out of the blocks quickly in the Jimmy Connors group match, taking an early break and holding on to pocket the first set.

Taylor Fritz got his bid for a first ATP Finals crown off to the best possible start with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4 win over home favourite Lorenzo Musetti in Turin on Monday. The 28-year-old American, who lost in last year's final to Jannik Sinner, was out of the blocks quickly in the Jimmy Connors group match, taking an early break and holding on to pocket the first set. The crowd did their best to lift a visibly fatigued Musetti who was a late addition to the line-up. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes He only qualified for the Finals on Saturday after Novak Djokovic pulled out with injury, shortly after beating the Italian in the final of the Athens event. Winning 84 percent of his first serves and giving away just four break point chances, none of which were taken, Fritz continued to control the match. The American broke to go 3-1 up and served cleanly all the way to the line. "I am really happy. I thought I did a lot of things really well," Fritz said. "I did a great job early on in the match to serve my way out of trouble and save some break points. The whole second set I played well and had a lot of chances to break that I didn’t get. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes "I am really happy I was able to serve it out there and it didn’t come back to ruin it." Fritz qualified sixth for the Finals and after finishing runner-up last year is gearing up for another tilt at the title. "Every time I come here, I like the conditions and it is very easy to get motivated and fired up," said Fritz. "You can lock in, it is the last tournament of the year and it is the ATP Finals, it's a big deal.” Neither player will have time to rest as both are back on court on Tuesday. Fritz faces Carlos Alcaraz who also got off to a winning start by beating Alex de Minaur on Sunday while Musetti takes on the Australian. Later on Monday, Sinner takes on the Canadian Felix Auger-Alissime in the Bjorn Borg group. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Taylor Fritz, who lost in last year's final to Jannik Sinner, was out of the blocks quickly in the Jimmy Connors group match, taking an early break and holding on to pocket the first set.

ATP Finals: 'Fired-up' Taylor Fritz sees off Lorenzo Musetti in opening round

Lionel Messi made a surprise return to the Camp Nou on Sunday (Nov 9) as he posted pictures of himself at the iconic ground, which was his home for more than 16 years. Messi, who broke through the academy of Barcelona, served for the famous Spanish club until 2021 before moving on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. Since his 2021 move, Messi has not made any official visit to the stadium, but was spotted at the venue as he strolled in the surroundings.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ3zR6-DPGm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)</a></div></blockquote>
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<h2>Messi visits Camp Nou</h2>“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over.” He also expressed his desire to return to the club one day, saying, “I hope that one day I can come back, not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got the chance to do.”&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;One of the legends of the game, Messi graced the pitch at Camp Nou for a better part of a decade and a half as he won multiple honours. This included a club record four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies and multiple other honours. During this period, he also scored 672 goals in 772 appearances for Barcelona, underlining his legacy at the club.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Messi’s visit to the Camp Nou was his first since the stadium was revamped. Barca reopened the Camp Nou on Friday, 895 days after its closure, unveiling a revamped stadium by staging an open training session attended by 21,795 fans.&nbsp;While Messi is still an active player with Inter Miami, it will be interesting to see whether he makes a return to his beloved club or not. He extended his contract with Inter Miami in October and a return to Barcelona for now looks out of context.

One of the legends of the game, Lionel Messi graced the pitch at Camp Nou for a better part of a decade and a half as he won multiple honours. This included a club record four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies and multiple other honours. 

Lionel Messi made a surprise return to the Camp Nou on Sunday (Nov 9) as he posted pictures of himself at the iconic ground, which was his home for more than 16 years. Messi, who broke through the academy of Barcelona, served for the famous Spanish club until 2021 before moving on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. Since his 2021 move, Messi has not made any official visit to the stadium, but was spotted at the venue as he strolled in the surroundings.

One of the legends of the game, Lionel Messi graced the pitch at Camp Nou for a better part of a decade and a half as he won multiple honours. This included a club record four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies and multiple other honours.&nbsp;

Watch: Lionel Messi secretly visits Camp Nou, says 'I hope one day I can come back...'

Robert Lewandowski hit a hat-trick to help Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday in La Liga and cut Real Madrid's lead down to three points. The veteran Polish striker's treble helped Hansi Flick's side capitalise on Los Blancos' 0-0 draw earlier on at Rayo Vallecano. Teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barca in another gripping game produced by the champions' attacking approach, and Marcus Rashford produced two more assists. Frenkie de Jong was sent off late on for Barca for two yellow cards but by then the champions had secured their victory to move second.Lewandowski has had a stop-start beginning of the season because of injury and Flick said his hat-trick would boost his confidence.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-nottingham-forest-boost-survival-bid-aston-villa-thrash-bournemouth-4-0-1762708769952">Premier League: Forest boost survival bid; Aston Villa thrash Bournemouth 4-0</a>"After the injury I can see a different Robert Lewandowski, he's positive, he came back very early," Flick told reporters."For him, for his confidence, it's great to score three goals today."Lewandowski said the game was "one of the craziest" of the season, but was happy with the result."Vigo is always difficult for us but now we have less points (between us) and Real Madrid," Lewandowski told Movistar.Flick insisted Barcelona would not change their style despite some recent struggles, including a 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, and it led to a wild first half.The champions nosed ahead through a Lewandowski penalty on 10 minutes after a handball but Celta equalised a minute later.Rashford missed a one-on-one chance and Celta broke away to score, with Sergio Carreira scampering behind Barca's high defensive line.Missing several injured stars Flick had called on his team to show more fight in their absence and they were more energised at Balaidos.Looking back to his best, Lewandowski grabbed his second from an inviting Rashford cross to put Barca back in front on 37 minutes.Celta quickly hit back again, this time through Borja Iglesias, who smashed home from the edge of the box.However, Barca went in with the lead when Rashford's deflected cross found teenage star Yamal, who beat Ionut Radu at his near post.Both teams were more stable in the second half, with Barca dominating and Celta forced to sit back.Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with a header from Rashford's corner after 73 minutes to wrap up the win.It was the striker's seventh league goal of the season in just four starts, showing his finishing quality has not diminished at the age of 37."We have two weeks to disconnect now but I hope when we come back we play a lot better, it's the perfect moment to change things that aren't working," said Lewandowski."Flick asked if I needed a rest and I said no... I felt very good physically today and I'm very happy."- Madrid frustrated - Earlier, Real Madrid were left frustrated in their goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, giving champions Barcelona a chance to close in on them.Rayo battled strongly in the derby clash and although Real Madrid had the better chances, the hosts also had opportunities to win a scrappy game.They managed to limit La Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe's influence, while keeping Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham safely at arm's length as well.Madrid were hoping to bounce back from their Champions League defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday but Alonso's team dropped points for only the second time this season in the league."I want to keep growing, improving, with positive and constructive self-criticism -- this is Real Madrid, we all know where we are and what we want," coach Xabi Alonso told reporters."We're in November, there's a long way to go, we need to be demanding of ourselves (but) also be measured."Inigo Perez's Rayo threatened first, when Andrei Ratiu fired straight at Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.After that Madrid began to take control but the hosts, in mid-table, held firm.Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made a fine instinctive save to push away a Vinicius effort and the hosts starved Madrid superstar Mbappe of the ball.De Frutos and Alvaro Garcia came close for Rayo in the second half while Bellingham forced Batalla into another good save.

Flick insisted Barcelona would not change their style despite some recent struggles, including a 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, and it led to a wild first half.

Robert Lewandowski hit a hat-trick to help Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday in La Liga and cut Real Madrid's lead down to three points. The veteran Polish striker's treble helped Hansi Flick's side capitalise on Los Blancos' 0-0 draw earlier on at Rayo Vallecano. Teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barca in another gripping game produced by the champions' attacking approach, and Marcus Rashford produced two more assists. Frenkie de Jong was sent off late on for Barca for two yellow cards but by then the champions had secured their victory to move second. Lewandowski has had a stop-start beginning of the season because of injury and Flick said his hat-trick would boost his confidence. Also Read - Premier League: Forest boost survival bid; Aston Villa thrash Bournemouth 4-0 "After the injury I can see a different Robert Lewandowski, he's positive, he came back very early," Flick told reporters. "For him, for his confidence, it's great to score three goals today." Lewandowski said the game was "one of the craziest" of the season, but was happy with the result. "Vigo is always difficult for us but now we have less points (between us) and Real Madrid," Lewandowski told Movistar. Flick insisted Barcelona would not change their style despite some recent struggles, including a 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, and it led to a wild first half. The champions nosed ahead through a Lewandowski penalty on 10 minutes after a handball but Celta equalised a minute later. Rashford missed a one-on-one chance and Celta broke away to score, with Sergio Carreira scampering behind Barca's high defensive line. Missing several injured stars Flick had called on his team to show more fight in their absence and they were more energised at Balaidos. Looking back to his best, Lewandowski grabbed his second from an inviting Rashford cross to put Barca back in front on 37 minutes. Celta quickly hit back again, this time through Borja Iglesias, who smashed home from the edge of the box. However, Barca went in with the lead when Rashford's deflected cross found teenage star Yamal, who beat Ionut Radu at his near post. Both teams were more stable in the second half, with Barca dominating and Celta forced to sit back. Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with a header from Rashford's corner after 73 minutes to wrap up the win. It was the striker's seventh league goal of the season in just four starts, showing his finishing quality has not diminished at the age of 37. "We have two weeks to disconnect now but I hope when we come back we play a lot better, it's the perfect moment to change things that aren't working," said Lewandowski. "Flick asked if I needed a rest and I said no... I felt very good physically today and I'm very happy." - Madrid frustrated - Earlier, Real Madrid were left frustrated in their goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, giving champions Barcelona a chance to close in on them. Rayo battled strongly in the derby clash and although Real Madrid had the better chances, the hosts also had opportunities to win a scrappy game. They managed to limit La Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe's influence, while keeping Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham safely at arm's length as well. Madrid were hoping to bounce back from their Champions League defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday but Alonso's team dropped points for only the second time this season in the league. "I want to keep growing, improving, with positive and constructive self-criticism -- this is Real Madrid, we all know where we are and what we want," coach Xabi Alonso told reporters. "We're in November, there's a long way to go, we need to be demanding of ourselves (but) also be measured." Inigo Perez's Rayo threatened first, when Andrei Ratiu fired straight at Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. After that Madrid began to take control but the hosts, in mid-table, held firm. Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made a fine instinctive save to push away a Vinicius effort and the hosts starved Madrid superstar Mbappe of the ball. De Frutos and Alvaro Garcia came close for Rayo in the second half while Bellingham forced Batalla into another good save.

Flick insisted Barcelona would not change their style despite some recent struggles, including a 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, and it led to a wild first half.

La Liga: Lewandowski hat-trick helps Barcelona cut Real Madrid lead to three points

Antoine Griezmann came off the bench and struck twice for Atletico Madrid to help his side beat Levante 3-1 in La Liga on Saturday. Villarreal moved provisionally second with a 2-0 win at Espanyol, while Diego Simeone's Atletico are fourth.&nbsp;La Liga leaders Real Madrid travel across the capital to face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and champions Barcelona, third, are at Celta Vigo.&nbsp;Atletico continued their 11 match unbeaten run in La Liga in part thanks to veteran forward Griezmann's second-half impact on a hard-fought triumph.&nbsp;Adrian de la Fuente's own goal sent the hosts ahead at the Metropolitano stadium but Levante levelled through Manu Sanchez.&nbsp;All-time Atletico top scorer Griezmann came on after an hour and hit a brace to earn his side all three points, taking them level with Barca.&nbsp;"It's hard for us to find solutions (in matches) sometimes, but those of us who come on from the bench are always bringing a boost," Griezmann told Movistar.&nbsp;"Teams that go far in all competitions do that because they have (good depth), and we all have to be ready, those who start and those who are on the bench."&nbsp;Griezmann has started just one of Atletico's last five matches across all competitions, with Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth often preferred up front by Simeone.&nbsp;"All players want to play, it's normal, it's what makes us happy. I have team-mates who want to play too, but no one sulks," Griezmann told reporters.&nbsp;"Especially not me, because I know I'm an example for everyone who watches me, for my son who watches me from the stands."&nbsp;Atletico have taken the lead in every league game they have played this season and went ahead in the 12th minute against Levante.&nbsp;Pablo Barrios' cross-shot from the right was pushed away by visiting goalkeeper Mathew Ryan but straight into helpless team-mate De la Fuente and into the net.&nbsp;Levante pulled level in the 21st minute as Atletico were caught napping at a corner and Sanchez nodded home at the back post after he was left completely unmarked.&nbsp;Simeone sent on Atletico talisman Griezmann just after the hour mark and the 34-year-old made an impact 28 seconds later.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Griezmann tapped home from close range after Marcos Llorente cut the ball back for him to give Atletico the lead once more.&nbsp;It was the fastest goal by a substitute in La Liga in the past decade.&nbsp;Griezmann grabbed his second with 10 minutes remaining after Ryan denied Julian Alvarez but the loose ball sat up nicely for the French forward to lunge in and turn over the line.&nbsp;Levante's Carlos Alvarez curled home a low free-kick in stoppage time but the goal was ruled out for offside against Matias Moreno who tried to kick it just in front of Oblak.&nbsp;Despite their good performance Levante are 17th and at danger of dropping into the relegation zone, with the three teams below them playing on Sunday.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>Plain sailing</h2>Villarreal eased to a comfortable victory at Espanyol, with Gerard Moreno and Alberto Moleiro on target for the Yellow Submarine.&nbsp;Their victory took them within four points of Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid and one point above Barca.&nbsp;Marcelino Garcia Toral's side suffered an embarassing defeat at Cypriot minnows Pafos in the Champions League on Wednesday but responded at the RCDE Stadium.&nbsp;Veteran forward Moreno curled home from the edge of the box to put the visitors ahead in the 43rd minute against his former club.&nbsp;Moleiro doubled their advantage early in the second half, following up to score after his first shot was saved by Marko Dmitrovic.&nbsp;"It's a very important win at a very difficult place to go," Moreno, who played more than 100 times for Espanyol, told DAZN.&nbsp;"I have a lot of respect (for Espanyol), I spent many years here, and I'm grateful for the love they've have given me," he continued.&nbsp;"It's a lot of emotions when I come here... I have to thank them, they always treat me well."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid travel across the capital to face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and champions Barcelona, third, are at Celta Vigo.

Antoine Griezmann came off the bench and struck twice for Atletico Madrid to help his side beat Levante 3-1 in La Liga on Saturday. Villarreal moved provisionally second with a 2-0 win at Espanyol, while Diego Simeone's Atletico are fourth. La Liga leaders Real Madrid travel across the capital to face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and champions Barcelona, third, are at Celta Vigo. Atletico continued their 11 match unbeaten run in La Liga in part thanks to veteran forward Griezmann's second-half impact on a hard-fought triumph. Adrian de la Fuente's own goal sent the hosts ahead at the Metropolitano stadium but Levante levelled through Manu Sanchez. All-time Atletico top scorer Griezmann came on after an hour and hit a brace to earn his side all three points, taking them level with Barca. "It's hard for us to find solutions (in matches) sometimes, but those of us who come on from the bench are always bringing a boost," Griezmann told Movistar. "Teams that go far in all competitions do that because they have (good depth), and we all have to be ready, those who start and those who are on the bench." Griezmann has started just one of Atletico's last five matches across all competitions, with Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth often preferred up front by Simeone. "All players want to play, it's normal, it's what makes us happy. I have team-mates who want to play too, but no one sulks," Griezmann told reporters. "Especially not me, because I know I'm an example for everyone who watches me, for my son who watches me from the stands." Atletico have taken the lead in every league game they have played this season and went ahead in the 12th minute against Levante. Pablo Barrios' cross-shot from the right was pushed away by visiting goalkeeper Mathew Ryan but straight into helpless team-mate De la Fuente and into the net. Levante pulled level in the 21st minute as Atletico were caught napping at a corner and Sanchez nodded home at the back post after he was left completely unmarked. Simeone sent on Atletico talisman Griezmann just after the hour mark and the 34-year-old made an impact 28 seconds later. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Griezmann tapped home from close range after Marcos Llorente cut the ball back for him to give Atletico the lead once more. It was the fastest goal by a substitute in La Liga in the past decade. Griezmann grabbed his second with 10 minutes remaining after Ryan denied Julian Alvarez but the loose ball sat up nicely for the French forward to lunge in and turn over the line. Levante's Carlos Alvarez curled home a low free-kick in stoppage time but the goal was ruled out for offside against Matias Moreno who tried to kick it just in front of Oblak. Despite their good performance Levante are 17th and at danger of dropping into the relegation zone, with the three teams below them playing on Sunday. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Plain sailing Villarreal eased to a comfortable victory at Espanyol, with Gerard Moreno and Alberto Moleiro on target for the Yellow Submarine. Their victory took them within four points of Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid and one point above Barca. Marcelino Garcia Toral's side suffered an embarassing defeat at Cypriot minnows Pafos in the Champions League on Wednesday but responded at the RCDE Stadium. Veteran forward Moreno curled home from the edge of the box to put the visitors ahead in the 43rd minute against his former club. Moleiro doubled their advantage early in the second half, following up to score after his first shot was saved by Marko Dmitrovic. "It's a very important win at a very difficult place to go," Moreno, who played more than 100 times for Espanyol, told DAZN. "I have a lot of respect (for Espanyol), I spent many years here, and I'm grateful for the love they've have given me," he continued. "It's a lot of emotions when I come here... I have to thank them, they always treat me well." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid travel across the capital to face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and champions Barcelona, third, are at Celta Vigo.

Atletico, Villarreal win to keep pressure on La Liga giants Real Madrid, Barcelona

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La Liga: Lewandowski hat-trick helps Barca cut Real Madrid lead to three points

Atletico, Villarreal win to keep pressure on La Liga giants