Turkiye defeated Kosovo 1-0 and Sweden defeated Poland 3-2, with the winners qualifying for the latest 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Published March 31, 2026
Turkiye defeated Kosovo 1-0 in the play-off final, ending a 24-year wait to qualify for the World Cup and returning to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2002.
Forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal in the 53rd minute in the match, which was held in Pristina on Tuesday, as they looked to qualify for their first World Cup.
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World No. 25 Torquier arrived under pressure to deliver after failing to qualify in the past 20 years, with coach Vincenzo Montella overseeing a team that mixes up-and-coming talent with experienced international players.
For Kosovo, who were 79th in the rankings and playing in front of a sold-out crowd, the loss ended a remarkable run that had them on the verge of making a historic debut in a major tournament less than 10 years after joining FIFA and UEFA.
Gokeres beat Sweden and defeat Poland
Viktor Gokeres scored a goal with two minutes left in the exciting qualifying play-off final, giving Sweden a 3-2 victory over Poland and clinching their ticket to the World Cup.
Sweden’s Anthony Elanga’s opening goal was canceled out by Nikola Zalewski’s equalizer, but Gustav Lagerbjerke’s 44th-minute goal restored the hosts’ advantage and ensured the first half was over.
Despite Karol Swiderski putting the visitors level again just after the interval, Gökeres took advantage of a late goalmouth scramble to side-foot home the winner.
As a result, Sweden will participate in Group F of the 2026 World Cup along with the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia, making it their first appearance in the tournament since 2018.
