As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the March international break marked a significant milestone, with seven nations already securing their spots in the tournament. Alongside hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada, Japan, Argentina, New Zealand, and Iran have officially qualified. Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions from Qatar 2022, secured qualification with an impressive 4-1 victory over Brazil in Buenos Aires. While Asian and South American qualifying campaigns are in full swing, European teams have just commenced their qualifiers. Anticipation builds for the upcoming year as teams vie for the final 48 spots in the expanded World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, commencing on June 11 next year. Let`s examine the standout winners and notable disappointments from the recent international break.
Triumphant: Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel, the new manager of the England national team, enjoyed a successful start, leading the Three Lions to victories against Albania and Latvia at Wembley. Tuchel`s arrival appears to have injected fresh energy into a talented squad eager to overcome the disappointment of consecutive UEFA Euro final defeats in 2021 and the previous year under Gareth Southgate. Beyond the positive on-field displays, Tuchel can be optimistic about the future, aiming to guide England to silverware. He becomes only the third foreign manager to lead the team, following Sven-Göran Eriksson (2001-2006) and Fabio Capello (2007-2012).
Disappointing: Brazil
Brazil emerged as the biggest underperformers of this international window. Dorival Junior`s team suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat away to rivals Argentina in Buenos Aires. Adding to the setback, Argentina had already qualified for the World Cup earlier that day and then convincingly outplayed Brazil. Argentina`s superior performance was evident in their gameplay, exemplified by Enzo Fernandez`s goal, which followed a sequence of 37 passes – one of the longest passing sequences leading to a goal in the current CONMEBOL qualifying campaign.
Victorious: Argentina
Argentina has become the first South American team to officially qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Under Scaloni`s guidance, the team will have the opportunity to defend their historic third World Cup title, secured four years prior in Doha against France. Having navigated a period of expected instability post-championship, Argentina has re-emerged as a strong contender for the 2026 title. Notably, they achieved qualification despite the absence of key players Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez, who were sidelined with minor injuries. This week has bolstered the team`s confidence, reaffirming their ambition to win again.
Under Pressure: Italy
Despite Italy yet to begin their European qualifiers due to their UEFA Nations League quarterfinal loss to Germany, the Azzurri face challenges leading up to the June matches. Their defeat against Julian Nagelsmann`s Germany places Italy in Group I with Norway. Erling Haaland`s Norway has already secured victories in their initial two matches against Moldavia and Israel. A crucial match awaits Italy on June 6 when they visit Norway for their first World Cup qualifier. Securing points in Oslo is vital to avoid early pressure. The historical European powerhouse has missed the last two World Cups, with their last appearance in a World Cup knockout stage dating back to their 2006 triumph against France.
Adrian Whitmore