International Break November edition...

Here we go again, it is the last international break of the year.

European Championship Qualifiers
Group A is done and dusted, but there is some incentive for Spain and Scotland to finish strongly. The seedings for next months draw are based entirely on the Q stage, so winning the group and being a top seed may help.
Spain face Cyprus and Georgia, Scotland play Georgia and Norway. Georgia are already assured of a play off place, while Norways fate lies in a complicated set of results.

Group B is a fight between Netherlands and Greece for the second spot behind France. The Dutch have the massive advantage of 2 games against bottom 2 Ireland and Gibraltar. Greece, level on 12 points with the Dutch but losing the H2H need a miracle and a win over France. Greece will get a second chance in the play-offs, Irelands hopes are slim.

Group C is set for a humdinger between Italy and Ukraine for the second Q place behind England. Italy have the chance to go level on points with Ukraine in their home match with North Macedonia, before the two meet next Monday in a winner takes all. Italy won the first meeting, so provided they win the first game a draw will do them.

Group D sees Croatia and Wales level on 10 points behind already qualified Turkey. Armenia in 4th can still qualify although very unlikely. Croatia go to Latvia before hosting Armenia, while Wales have a home tie with Armenia before ending the campaign with a home game against Turkey. Croatia are guaranteed a play-off place while Wales are almost certain of one, so second chances for both are available.

Group E is one of the tightest, with Albania leading the way on 13 points. Czechia have 11, Poland 10 zznd Moldova 9. Poland, however, only have 1 game while the rest have 2. Moldova vs Albania and Poland versus Czech Republic are first up, before Albania host bottom placed Faroe Islands and Moldova go to the Czech Republic. Poland and Czechia should have the safety net of a play off place if they fail.

Group F is done, with Belgium and Austria just fighting for seed position. Sweden are out, Azerbaijan await a play-off place and Estonia look likely to be in the League A play-off!

Hungary and Serbia look likely to qualify from Group G. Montenegro have an outside chance, but the top 2 both face bottom placed Bulgaria.

In Group H Slovenia and Denmark (19pts each) had a great October to put them in charge. They meet on Friday with a winner guaranteeing qualification. Kazakhstan are the team looking to take advantage, and as they face Slovenia in the final game will be hoping Denmark win. They have San Marino first, with a win putting them on 18 points. Finland are going to the play-offs while both Denmark and Kazakhstan are guaranteed a place too.

Group I has already started this week as Israel play catch up with their games. A damaging 1-0 defeat in Kosovo last night means advantage is with Romania (16) and Switzerland (15). Kosovo (10) are all but out, and Israel (11) need a big recovery. Israel play Switzerland Wednesday, Romania Saturday before concluding next Tuesday away to Andorra. The top 2 meet on that Tuesday night, so all to play for.

Portugal are through with a 100% record, while Slovakia just need a point in Group J. They face Iceland and Bosnia.


CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying
It was quite a disastrous October for Brazil, as they lost to Uruguay after a home draw with Venezuela. Argentina are 4 wins from their opening 4 games as they lead the Q group.
Brazil go to unbeaten Colombia in game 5, while Argentina host second placed Uruguay. Then it is the big one as the Argies travel to Rio to meet their great rivals.
There are 6 places up for grabs, and 1 play off place.

CONCACAF Nations League
USA, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica enter the competition as League A enters the play-off stage. A 2 leg quarter this week, with Costa Rica vs Panama, Jamaica vs Canada, USA vs Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras vs Mexico.

CAF World Cup Qualifying
Over in Africa, 2026 qualification starts. With an extra 4 places up for grabs - a total of 9 - the group stage now sees 6 teams per group over 9 groups. Each group winner qualifies, with 4 best runner-ups going into play-offs with one place in the inter-confederation play-off up for grabs.
While most groups have a strong favourite, Mali and Ghana find themselves pitched against each other. 2022 semi-finalists Morocco have a tough looking task against Zambia, while Cape Verde may give Cameroon a fight. It is a long campaign, ending in October 2025. Of course there is also the African Cup on Nations in a couple of months.

AFC World Cup Qualifying
10 teams are already out as we head into the second of up to 5 rounds for some teams. At this stage there are 9 groups of 4 teams, with the group winners and runners up all moving onto the third round.
At the end of this 8 teams advance to the World Cup and one goes into the inter-confederation play-off.
Like Africa, the best Asian sides are also preparing for a January confederation tournament.

The Oceanic region doesn't start World Cup qualification until next year and it is just friendlies this week.

Under 17 World Cup
Also the weekend saw the U17s start their world cup. England came away from the first game with a 10-0 win over New Caledonia. The competition continues over the break. England play Iran - who beat Brazil in their opener - tomorrow before facing Brazil on Friday. The final is on 2nd December, can England repeat the heroics of the 2017 squad?