The road to the 2026 World Cup saw significant drama unfold across Europe on Thursday night, with Northern Ireland continuing their impressive charge while France secured a vital victory to keep their qualification hopes firmly on track.
Northern Ireland's Determined March Continues
Under the steady guidance of Michael O'Neill, Northern Ireland delivered another professional performance to see off Bulgaria 2-0 at Windsor Park. The victory maintains their strong position in Group C and keeps dreams of reaching a first World Cup since 1986 very much alive.
Conor Bradley broke the deadlock early in the second half, with the Liverpool defender's powerful strike setting the home side on their way. The crucial second goal came from substitute Paul Smyth, who made an immediate impact after coming off the bench to seal the three points.
The result leaves Northern Ireland level on points with group leaders Romania, setting up a tantalising clash between the two nations in their next qualifying match.
Mbappé Magic Seals French Victory
Meanwhile, in Group A, Kylian Mbappé once again proved the difference maker for France as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Belgium. The new Real Madrid star opened the scoring with a trademark finish before setting up the decisive second goal.
Despite Belgium pulling one back late on, Didier Deschamps' side held firm to claim a crucial three points that moves them closer to automatic qualification. The performance demonstrated France's resilience and their continued reliance on their captain's extraordinary talents.
Qualifying Picture Takes Shape
Elsewhere in the European qualifiers:
- Romania maintained their perfect record with a comfortable win over Kazakhstan
- Sweden and Ukraine played out an entertaining draw that helps neither side's cause
- Several other groups saw significant movement as the qualification race intensifies
The night's results have set up several crucial fixtures in the next round of matches, with Northern Ireland's trip to Romania particularly catching the eye as both teams battle for top spot in Group C.
With the expanded World Cup format offering more European places than ever before, both Northern Ireland and France will feel increasingly confident about their chances of securing a ticket to North America in 2026.
