The Czech Republic ended a 20-year World Cup exile in the most dramatic fashion possible on Tuesday night, securing their place at the 2026 tournament with a tense extra-time victory over Denmark in Prague.
The hosts, who had needed penalties to see off the Republic of Ireland in their semi-final, exploded from the blocks. Michal Sulc’s stunning first-time strike from the edge of the area after just three minutes gave them a dream start. Denmark, unbeaten against the Czechs in their last seven meetings since 2004, levelled before half-time through a towering header from Joachim Andersen. With no further goals in normal time, the match stretched into an extra period where fatigue from the Czechs’ previous 120-minute effort was tested against a fresher Danish side. The decisive moment arrived when captain Tomáš Souček, the hero of the semi-final, saw his header from Vladimír Coufal’s cross fall to fellow defender David Krejčí, who fired home an angled shot amidst Danish protests. The goal stood, sending the Czechs to a first World Cup since 2006 and into Group A with Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea.
Potter’s Sweden secure late passage
In Solna, Sweden booked their ticket thanks to another talismanic performance from Viktor Gyökeres. In a rollercoaster encounter, Anthony Elanga’s spectacular strike gave Sweden an early lead, only for Poland to hit back through Nicola Zalewski and an own goal. Gustaf Lagerbielke’s header restored Sweden’s lead before half-time, but the match remained in the balance until the 89th minute. Following a period of Swedish pressure, the ball fell to Gyökeres, who fired home the winner to spark delirium. The victory, sealed by a player who scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against Ukraine, marks a successful start for manager Graham Potter, who was appointed in October with the explicit goal of World Cup qualification. Sweden, who had a disappointing group stage but entered via the Nations League repechage, will join Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.
Kosovo’s historic dream ends in narrow defeat
The most poignant narrative of the night unfolded in Pristina, where Kosovo’s dream of a first-ever World Cup appearance was ended by a single, agonising goal from Turkey’s Kerem Aktürkoğlu. The match was a tense, physical affair, with Kosovo’s Fisnik Asllani denied by a spectacular save from Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayındır in the first half. The breakthrough came against the run of play when Aktürkoğlu guided a wayward shot inside the far post. Despite late pressure, including a dangerous free-kick from Edon Zhegrova, Kosovo could not find an equaliser.
The significance of the occasion, however, transcended the scoreline. Kosovo’s journey to this playoff final was itself a monumental achievement. Having only been admitted as a full FIFA and UEFA member in 2016, the nation’s footballing infrastructure was forged in adversity. Players once trained on rutted pitches in the shadow of polluting power plants or made long trips for single sessions. For a country where public matches were banned by Serbian authorities in the 1990s and which endured a brutal war, sport has become a profound vehicle for national pride and international recognition. Their thrilling 4-3 semi-final win over Slovakia was a testament to their spirit. Though the final step proved a bridge too far against a experienced Turkish side—who will now join Group D with the United States, Paraguay, and Australia—their campaign has cemented Kosovo’s place on football’s map.
