The Netherlands confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup finals by finishing top of their section in the penultimate evening of group matches in European qualifying on Monday.
Oranje started the day three points above Poland, who occupied the play-off place in Group G and had a huge goal inferiority to Ronald Koeman’s side.
Bottom side Lithuania travelled to Amsterdam, while Poland visited fourth-placed Malta and there were five matches elsewhere across Europe.
You can read about Germany vs Slovakia here. 101GreatGoals.com has the results and permutations from the other international matches to have taken place in 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Netherlands vs Lithuania: Hosts ease to World Cup
Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders gave the Netherlands a 16th-minute lead and hit a post before half-time, with Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo adding a penalty after the break.
Tottenham’s Xavi Simons fired in the third and Aston Villa wideman Donyell Malen made the final score 4-0 with a run from inside the Netherlands’ half.
Netherlands starting XI: Bart Verbruggen, Jurrien Timber, Matthijs de Ligt, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Tijjani Reijnders, Frenkie de Jong, Xavi Simons, Donyell Malen, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo
Lithuania starting XI: Edvinas Gertmonas, Pijus Sirvys, Vilius Armalas, Edgaras Utkus, Artemijus Tutyskinas, Justas Lasickas, Gratas Sirgedas, Modestas Vorobjovas, Gvidas Gineitis, Tomas Kalinauskas, Fedor Cernych
SEE YOU IN 2026! 😍#NothingLikeOranje #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Ay6PquLK4U
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 17, 2025
Northern Ireland vs Luxembourg: Donley penalty
Tottenham forward Jamie Donley – a 20-year-old who is on loan to Championship side Stoke City – scored a 44th-minute penalty to give Northern Ireland a 1-0 win at home to Luxembourg.
The Green and White Army finished third and are in the play-offs because of their Nations League performance, while their opponents finished fourth.
Northern Ireland starting XI: Conor Hazard, Ruairi McConville, Paddy McNair, Ciaron Brown, Conor Bradley, Brad Lyons, Jamie McDonnell, Ethan Galbraith, Jamal Lewis, Isaac Price, Jamie Donley
Luxembourg starting XI: Anthony Morris, Marvin Martins, Seid Korac, Dirk Carlson, Laurent Jans, Christopher Martins, Mathias Olesen, Leandro Barreiro, Olivier Thill, Danel Sinani, Aiman Dardari
Malta vs Poland: Zielinski goal seals win
Poland head to the play-offs unbeaten in six matches under new manager Jan Urban after earning a 3-2 win in Malta through Piotr Zielinski’s 85th-minute winner.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski gave Urban’s side a first-half lead before Irvin Cardona levelled the scoreline at the break. Pawel Wszolek restored Poland’s advantage and Teddy Teuma equalised with a penalty.
Malta starting XI: Henry Bonello, Zach Muscat, Kurt Shaw, Gabriel Mentz, Ryan Camenzuli, Joseph Mbong, Matthew Guillaumier, Teddy Teuma, Alexander Satariano, Ilyas Chouaref, Irvin Cardona
Poland starting XI: Bartlomiej Dragowski, Przemyslaw Wisniewski, Tomasz Kedziora, Jakub Kiwior, Pawel Wszolek, Bartosz Slisz, Piotr Zielinski, Michal Skoras, Jakub Kaminski, Robert Lewandowski, Nicola Zalewski
Czech Republic vs Gibraltar: Coufal, Soucek among scorers
David Doudera, Tomas Chory, Vladimir Coufal, Adam Karabec and Tomas Soucek scored before half-time and Robin Hranac added the final goal six minutes into the second half as Czech Republic signed off before their play-off bid with a 6-0 home win.
Gibraltar finished without a point in Group L, nine points behind Montenegro.
Czech Republic starting XI: Matej Kovar, Vladimir Coufal, Robin Hranac, Jaroslav Zeleny, David Jurasek, David Doudera, Michal Beran, Patrik Schick, Tomas Soucek, Adam Karabec, Tomas Chory
Gibraltar starting XI: Jaylan Hankins, Ethan Jolley, Kian Ronan, Bernardo Lopes, Jayce Olivero, Kai Mauro, Julian del Rio, Nicholas Pozo, Graeme Torrilla, James Scanlon, Jaiden Bartolo
Montenegro vs Croatia: Vlasic goal completes comeback
Croatia had already reached the finals and fell 2-0 behind after 17 minutes away to Montenegro, who were destined to finish fourth but scored through Milutin Osmajic and Nikola Krstovic.
Ivan Perisic’s 37th-minute penalty started the visitors’ comeback, which was completed by finishes from Kristijan Jakic in the 72nd minute and Nikola Vlasic three minutes from time.
Montenegro starting XI: Igor Nikic, Marko Vesovic, Marko Tuci, Slobodan Rubezic, Adam Marusic, Marko Jankovic, Stevan Jovetic, Andrija Bulatovic, Stefan Loncar, Milutin Osmajic, Nikola Krstovic
Croatia starting XI: Dominik Livakovic, Kristijan Jakic, Josip Sutalo, Duje Caleta-Car, Josko Gvardiol, Franjo Ivanovic, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, Nikola Moro, Ivan Perisic, Igor Matanovic
2026 World Cup playoffs dates
The top team from each of the 12 European Qualifier groups proceeds automatically to the finals, which will be expanded to 48 teams.
The 12 runners-up in each group will join four Nations League teams in the one-legged play-off ties, which will be drawn from pots based on teams’ records during the campaign.
The semi-finals will take place on March 26, followed by the finals on March 31 2026.
When is the draw for the 2026 World Cup playoffs?
The play-off draw will take place on Thursday, November 20 at 12:00 GMT (07:00 ET / 04:00 PT).
When is the draw for the 2026 World Cup finals?
The draw for the World Cup finals will take place on December 5 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with the ceremony starting at 17:00 GMT (12:00 ET/ 09:00 PT).
The tournament runs from June 11 until July 19 2026.
