In a dramatic conclusion to their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, Slovakia snatched a vital 1-0 victory against Northern Ireland in Kosice, with debutant Tomas Bobcek becoming an unlikely hero in stoppage time.
Late Drama in Kosice
The match appeared destined for a goalless draw until the 93rd minute, when substitute Tomas Bobcek, who had been on the pitch for merely three minutes, fired home from Laszlo Benes' corner. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Slovakian players and coaching staff, though Northern Ireland vehemently protested what they believed was a foul on defender Dan Ballard in the buildup.
Slovakia had already seen two second-half strikes disallowed, from Lukas Haraslin and David Strelec, making Bobcek's late intervention all the more significant. The victory keeps Slovakia's hopes of topping Group A alive as they prepare to face Germany.
Playoff Consolation for Northern Ireland
Despite the heartbreaking nature of their defeat, Northern Ireland received confirmation they will feature in the playoffs next March. This assurance came courtesy of Croatia's 3-1 victory over the Faroe Islands, a result that mathematically secured Northern Ireland's playoff position due to their Nations League group victory.
The loss was further marred by defender Dan Ballard receiving a second yellow card in the dying moments of the match, ruling him out of their next competitive fixture.
Group A Showdown and Other Results
The result sets up a thrilling final matchday in Group A, where Slovakia will travel to Leipzig to face Germany. Germany currently leads the group on goal difference alone after their 2-0 win over Luxembourg, secured by a brace from Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade.
A win or a draw will be enough for Germany to qualify automatically for the World Cup, while Slovakia must win to claim top spot in the group.
Elsewhere in European qualifying, the Netherlands moved to the brink of qualification after battling to a 1-1 draw away against Poland. Memphis Depay cancelled out Jakub Kaminski's opener, taking his international tally to 55 goals. The Netherlands need only a draw against bottom-placed Lithuania in their final match to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup.
Croatia officially booked their ticket to the tournament with a 3-1 comeback win against the Faroe Islands, ensuring they cannot be caught in Group L.
