World Cup 32 Qualification Opens With Champions Tested, Giants Bruised and Dark Horses Rising
The 32nd World Cup qualification cycle has begun in earnest. Some former champions made immediate statements, some old powers stumbled, and a few ambitious outsiders wasted no time announcing themselves.
From Germany’s controlled start to Slovenia’s ruthless demolition of England, from Bangladesh’s surge to Switzerland’s five-goal warning shot, the opening round has already given each group its first storyline. Here is how the tables look after the opening matches.
Germany Start Like Finalists, Albania Hold Denmark
Germany opened their campaign with a professional 3 : 1 win over Russia, showing the same authority that carried them to 2nd place in WC 31. Goals from G. Baumgartner, B. Dotzauer and W. Dahnke gave them the early lead in the group.
Denmark and Albania shared a 1 : 1 draw, with Albania’s A. Zagreda striking first before U. Tydsk levelled. Dimat Carcani’s man of the match award underlined Albania’s resilience.
Germany now travel to Albania, while Denmark meet Sweden in Round 2. With Sweden still waiting to enter the race, Group A already looks tight behind Germany.
Bosnia and Herzegovina made the strongest start in Group B, beating Uruguay 2 : 1 thanks to I. Cerovac’s 90th-minute goal. For a nation whose best World Cup run was a quarterfinal in WC 30, this was a mature opening statement.
Ireland and Algeria drew 1 : 1, leaving both sides in the early chase. Algeria, a former WC 7 champion, avoided defeat but did not yet look ready to dominate.
Bulgaria enter in Round 2 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Uruguay face Ireland in a match that already feels important for both qualification hopes.
Positions: 1st - Romania (3 points), 2nd - Norway (3 points), 3rd - Brazil (0 points), 4th - Argentina (0 points), 5th - Israel (0 points)
Romania and Norway Punish Slow Starters
Romania began Group C with a commanding 3 : 0 win over Israel, powered by a hat-trick from J. Mindeac. For a three-time World Cup winner, it was exactly the kind of opening performance expected from a serious contender.
Norway produced the other major result, defeating Argentina 2 : 0. Argentina, winners of the first ever World Cup, now face immediate pressure after another poor start following their 5th-place qualification finish in WC 31.
Brazil enter next against Romania, while Israel host Argentina. If Argentina fail to respond quickly, their national team manager will already be under heavy scrutiny.
Group D opened with two draws. Estonia and Croatia finished 1 : 1, with E. Vaarak scoring late before V. Roko answered for Croatia six minutes later.
Greece and Thailand played out a 0 : 0 draw, a result that gives neither side separation but keeps both in the early qualification picture.
Chile have yet to play, and their entrance against Estonia in Round 2 could reshape the group. For now, Croatia, Estonia, Thailand and Greece all sit on one point.
Group E could not have started more evenly. Serbia and the Netherlands drew 0 : 0, while South Korea and Peru finished 1 : 1.
Peru, with podium finishes in WC 18, WC 21 and WC 30, remain one of the group’s most decorated sides, but South Korea showed they will not be easy to move aside.
New Zealand opened Group F with a 2 : 1 win over India, with C. Warburton scoring twice inside 30 minutes. India pulled one back through A. Rai, but New Zealand held firm.
Bolivia and Belgium drew 0 : 0, a cautious result between two sides with major World Cup pedigree. Belgium’s trophy cabinet is among the richest in the game, while Bolivia finished 3rd in WC 31.
Turkey, a four-time World Cup champion, enter in Round 2 against Bolivia. Belgium face New Zealand in a match that could define the early top-two race.
Slovenia Destroy England, South Africa Join the Charge
Slovenia delivered the loudest result of the opening round, crushing England 5 : 0. N. Korde opened the scoring, M. Vucak struck twice, and A. Ocepek and A. Janezic completed the rout.
For England, a former WC 25 champion, this was an extreme result and they will need to work hard to overcome it.
South Africa also started strongly, beating Rep. of Montenegro 2 : 0 with two goals from O. Mkhuma. France enter next against Slovenia, while England face South Africa in a must-repair match.
Positions: 1st - Austria (3 points), 2nd - Portugal (1 point), 3rd - Spain (1 point), 4th - Malta (0 points), 5th - Latvia (0 points)
Austria Begin Their Title Defence With Authority
Austria, the reigning WC 31 champions, began with a controlled 2 : 0 win over Latvia. M. Haid and J. Witmer scored inside the first 17 minutes, giving Austria immediate command of the group.
Portugal and Spain drew 0 : 0, leaving both traditional contenders with work to do. Malta have yet to enter the campaign.
Austria next face Malta, while Latvia meet Portugal. The champions already look settled, but the second qualification spot remains wide open.
Bangladesh Make a Statement, Finland Edge Australia
Bangladesh produced one of the strongest starts of the round with a 3 : 0 win over Slovakia. Goals from A. Islam, N. Khan and R. Hasan put them top of Group I.
Finland also opened with victory, beating Australia 1 : 0 through V. Kalliokoski’s 18th-minute goal. Australia’s national team manager will be questioned after another difficult result following recent qualification disappointments.
Iceland enter in Round 2 against Finland, while Australia must respond immediately against Bangladesh.
Moldova took early control of Group J with a 2 : 0 win over Canada, as D. Croitoru scored in both halves. After reaching the WC Last 16 in WC 30, Moldova look capable of challenging again.
Colombia and China drew 0 : 0, giving both sides a point but little momentum. Canada, meanwhile, sit bottom after a familiar result for a side that finished 4th in each of the last three qualification cycles.
Czech republic enter next against Moldova, while Canada host Colombia in a match that could already shape the lower half of the table.
Switzerland made the biggest attacking statement in Group K, beating Venezuela 5 : 1. Five different Swiss scorers shared the goals, with Sebastien Ragot named man of the match.
Poland, four-time World Cup winners and WC 30 champions, also started impressively with a 3 : 0 win over the United States of America. H. Dziadosz scored early before M. Rossa added two more.
USA and Venezuela both suffered extreme opening defeats, and in both cases the national team managers must take responsibility. Italy enter in Round 2 against Poland, while USA face Switzerland.
Scotland opened Group L with a 1 : 0 win over Mexico, J. Caird scoring the decisive goal in the 57th minute. Alick Mabel’s man of the match performance helped Scotland start with maximum points.
Hungary matched them with a 1 : 0 victory away to Japan, thanks to I. Janovics’ 75th-minute winner.
Lithuania have yet to play and enter next against Japan, while Hungary face Mexico. After one round, Scotland and Hungary have taken the early advantage in what already looks like a low-margin group.
Early shocks and first statements in WC 32 U21 qualifying
The 32nd U21 World Cup qualification campaign has opened with champions, former finalists and ambitious outsiders all fighting for only two tickets per group. With the first round complete, some groups already have clear leaders, while others have produced warning signs for managers under pressure.
Here is the full group-by-group picture after the opening matches.
France and Bolivia opened Group A with identical 2:0 victories, immediately taking control of the two qualification places. Bolivia beat Slovakia through goals from Pascual Yarzan and S. Ballado, with Yarzan named man of the match.
France were just as professional against Venezuela, with M. Rivet scoring early and L. Villeneuve sealing the match after the break. Italy have yet to play, but their entrance now comes with pressure already on the table.
Thailand delivered the headline result of Group B, beating four-time U21 World Cup winners Bosnia and Herzegovina 2:1. P. Dhevapalin struck early, and S. Ratamahawong won it late after N. Isakovic had equalised.
Lithuania sit top after a 3:0 green-table win over Estonia. For Bosnia, defeat in a four-team group is already dangerous, and the manager will face questions after dropping points immediately.
Slovenia, winners of WC 30, began in dominant fashion with a 3:0 win away to China. Klavdij Mlakar scored all three goals and was the obvious star of the round.
Hungary also started with victory, beating Uruguay 4:2 in a wild match. Uruguay scored twice in the first 20 minutes but still conceded four, a result that puts clear responsibility on the national team manager.
Spain produced the most extreme result of the round, destroying Canada 9:0. David Quintano De Silva Figueroa scored six goals and was named man of the match.
There is no hiding place for the Canada manager after a defeat of that size. Elsewhere, India came from behind to beat South Africa 2:1, with Anal Kanakia scoring twice.
Denmark survived an early scare against Mexico, coming from 2:0 down to win 4:2 with four second-half goals. Jesper Petersen scored twice in two minutes and was named man of the match.
Turkey also began well, beating Greece 2:0 through goals from C. Anit and V. Yozgatli. Germany have not yet played, but their first match against Turkey now looks highly significant.
Israel beat Chile 3:1, with Y. Lieberman scoring twice and goalkeeper Liran Taitel named man of the match. Chile’s late goal was not enough to change the story.
Iceland matched that strong start with a 2:0 win over Ireland, scoring both goals inside 14 minutes. Sweden still wait to enter the group, but Israel and Iceland already hold the qualification places.
Algeria opened Group G with a 3:1 win over New Zealand, while Albania caused a major early problem for Belgium by beating them 2:0.
Belgium, former two-time U21 World Cup winners, now start from the bottom half of the table. That defeat will sit firmly on the manager’s shoulders unless the response is immediate.
Brazil, reigning U21 World Cup champions and winners of WC 29 and WC 31, began with a 2:1 win over Australia. V. Ligeirinho’s penalty decided the match after Australia had equalised.
Russia and Peru drew 1:1, with Peru saving a point through A. Sulca in the 85th minute. Montenegro have not yet played, leaving this group still wide open behind Brazil.
Croatia lead Group I after a 3:0 win over Bangladesh, with D. Beretic scoring twice in quick succession. Lujo Kopic was named man of the match.
Switzerland and Argentina played out a 0:0 draw, with Andrea D'Addamio named man of the match. It was a disciplined result, but both teams already trail Croatia.
Group J began with two 1:1 draws. Netherlands and England shared points, with Reginald Alfredson scoring for England and later being named man of the match.
Latvia and Norway also drew 1:1, Jarl Hansen rescuing Norway in the 86th minute. Poland, runners-up in WC 30 and WC 31, have yet to play and now enter a perfectly balanced group.
Czech republic produced a major attacking display, beating the United States of America 5:2. Lukas Urban scored twice and was named man of the match.
Colombia also started with three points, beating Bulgaria 2:1 away. The USA manager will be under pressure after conceding five in the opener, especially in a group where Portugal have not even started yet.
South Korea, WC 29 runners-up, opened Group L with a controlled 2:0 win over Romania. W. Mo scored from the penalty spot before D. Noh doubled the lead.
Moldova and Japan drew 2:2 after Moldova scored twice in the second half, including C. Amarandei’s 90th-minute equaliser. Finland have yet to play, but South Korea already look the early team to catch.
Cycle 32 Begins With Shockwaves, Statement Wins and Early Pressure
The 32nd U19 World Cup qualification campaign opened with drama across the DO world, as former champions, rising outsiders and wounded favourites all began the fight for two precious qualification places in each group.
With only the top two teams in every group reaching the U19 World Cup, the first round already carried real weight. Some sides took early control, some survived narrow tests, and others left their national team managers with serious questions to answer.
Czech republic lead Group A after a wild 4-3 victory over Finland. M. Marek scored twice, including a penalty, while Finland’s A. Pasanen hit a hat-trick and still finished empty-handed.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also made a strong start, beating Australia 1-0 through Z. Leskovar. Goalkeeper Marko Juricic was named man of the match, giving Bosnia early confidence in a group where Sweden have yet to begin.
Scotland produced the headline result of the round with a brutal 20-0 victory over Spain. James White was named man of the match after a devastating attacking display.
This was an extreme result, and responsibility must fall on the Spain national team manager. Spain, who have repeatedly finished around the qualification places in recent cycles, now face immediate damage control.
Russia also opened with three points, coming from behind to beat Italy 2-1. Their next match against Scotland already looks like a major test of the group’s true balance.
Slovenia, four-time U19 World Cup winners, began with a controlled 3-0 win over Bangladesh. Klemen Marini scored twice and was named man of the match.
Latvia made an equally important start, beating former champions Algeria 2-0. With Greece still waiting to play, Algeria already face pressure after one round.
Defending U19 World Cup champions Poland did not play in Round 1, but Group D still delivered major movement.
Lithuania stunned the Netherlands 2-1, with goalkeeper Silvestras Girskis named man of the match. Turkey also came from behind to beat India 2-1, thanks to two goals from Hakan Gunerman.
The Netherlands, former two-time winners, now enter their match against Poland under pressure.
United States of America opened with a 3-1 win over Albania, powered by two goals from S. Henriques and a man-of-the-match performance from goalkeeper Esteban Aviles.
Estonia also started strongly, beating Japan 2-0 with two quick second-half goals. Croatia, who have recent World Cup knockout experience, enter next against Estonia in a key early fixture.
Moldova made the loudest start in Group F, beating Mexico 4-1. Alexandr Lavreniuc scored twice inside three minutes, setting the tone immediately.
Romania, twice U19 World Cup winners, edged South Korea 3-2 as Ferdinand Tecuta completed a first-half hat-trick. Portugal have yet to play, but already face a group with two confident leaders.
Peru opened Group G with a dominant 4-0 win over Slovakia. T. Illanes scored in the first minute and again after the break, while Norino Huachaca was named man of the match.
Norway and Germany drew 1-1, leaving both behind Peru early. Norway, last cycle’s runners-up, will know that dropped points matter in a four-team group.
Iceland delivered a massive statement with a 9-0 win over England. Oddur Noason scored four times and was named man of the match.
This was another extreme result, and the blame sits with the England national team manager. England are former U19 World Cup winners, but this opening defeat leaves them with a huge goal-difference problem.
Belgium and Uruguay drew 0-0, while Bolivia have yet to enter the group.
South Africa lead Group I after a strong 4-1 win over Canada. N. Yamoah scored twice inside four minutes, giving Canada a nightmare start.
Rep. of Montenegro also impressed, beating Israel 2-0. Bulgaria, who have regularly hovered near qualification in recent cycles, begin next against Montenegro.
Chile opened with a 2-0 win over France, a major result against former U19 World Cup winners. Andres Weiller was named man of the match in goal.
Venezuela matched that scoreline against Malta, with Tony Urbano scoring both goals. Denmark have yet to play, but their first match against Venezuela now carries immediate importance.
Brazil made a powerful start, beating Hungary 4-1. Edvan Cajazeiras scored twice and led a performance that reminded the group of Brazil’s champion pedigree.
The bigger shock came elsewhere, where New Zealand beat former champions Argentina 1-0. Curtis Anderton was named man of the match, while Argentina now begin the campaign already chasing points.
Serbia began with a 4-2 win over China after falling behind in a lively match. Nebojsa Rapo was named man of the match as Serbia showed their attacking strength.
Austria also started cleanly, beating Ireland 2-0. Switzerland, a former U19 World Cup winner, have yet to play and enter next against Ireland.
Early Blows, Big Warnings: U17 World Cup 32 Qualification Opens With Little Room For Error
The 32nd U17 World Cup qualification cycle has begun, and the message from the opening round is already clear: every point matters. With only the top two teams in each group earning a ticket to the U17 World Cup, even one bad tactical call, one slow start, or one incomplete squad can define an entire campaign.
Round 1 delivered champions making statements, outsiders grabbing early hope, and several managers already under pressure. Now the qualification groups move into their decisive rhythm, with reputations, recent history, and World Cup dreams all on the line.
Lithuania produced the most ruthless opening statement in Group A, beating Croatia 5-0. N. Salavejus, T. Bezykornovas, E. Gedgaudas, M. Kaunietis and I. Podelis all scored, while Matas Kaunietis was named man of the match.
The result was extreme, and the responsibility falls directly on the Croatian national team manager, especially after Croatia fielded only eight infield players. For a nation with a U17 World Cup final and a bronze in its history, that was a damaging way to begin.
Russia also opened with three points, edging Bulgaria 1-0 through A. Popov’s early goal. Ilya Batalov’s man-of-the-match display in goal gave Russia a narrow but valuable start, while Brazil, the three-time champion, now enters the group with immediate pressure against leaders Lithuania.
France began Group B like a former champion should, defeating Malta 5-2. N. James struck three times, with R. Dubuc and J. Perrin also scoring, while Jeremy Perrin controlled enough of the match to earn man-of-the-match honors.
Malta’s manager will have questions to answer after conceding five, especially with the team’s own quarterfinal history in WC 29 still recent enough to raise expectations.
Montenegro matched France on points with a 4-2 win over Venezuela. V. Kocan, B. Garovic, L. Djinovic and M. Buzic turned the match around after Venezuela had led early through E. Coello. With Sweden yet to play, Group B already looks like a fight between firepower and discipline.
Slovenia Start Like Contenders, Canada Edge Latvia
Slovenia, one of the great names of U17 World Cup history, opened with a strong 4-1 away win over Slovakia. B. Birsa scored twice, A. Krasovec added two late goals, and Izidor Vogrin was named man of the match from defence.
For Slovakia, a 4-1 defeat at home is an extreme warning sign, and the national team manager must take responsibility for a collapse that left the team bottom after one match.
Canada also began with a win, beating Latvia 2-1. That result matters greatly in a group containing reigning WC 30 champion Moldova, WC 31 runner-up Latvia, and Slovenia. Round 2 brings Slovenia against Canada, already a direct test for top-two control.
Switzerland Lead, Denmark And South Korea Share Six-Goal Drama
Switzerland made the cleanest start in Group D with a 3-0 win over Uruguay. E. Delmonaco scored after three minutes, B. Willaschek added two more, and Delmonaco was named man of the match.
Uruguay’s manager must carry the blame for a heavy opening defeat, particularly as the side failed to score and conceded so early.
The other match was pure drama, as Denmark and South Korea drew 3-3. C. Ibsen scored twice for Denmark, while T. You, J. Youn and E. Choi all found the net for South Korea. With Chile still waiting to enter, Switzerland hold the early advantage, but the group already looks unpredictable.
Belgium and Turkey both opened Group E with 1-0 wins, immediately placing pressure on Norway and Thailand.
Turkey beat Norway through T. Ataergin’s 76th-minute goal, with goalkeeper Necmi Noyan named man of the match. Belgium then defeated Thailand thanks to R. Masson’s second-half strike, while Sacha Rousseau earned the individual award.
The results were narrow, but important. Turkey have five U17 World Cup titles in their past, while Belgium still carry the memory of a WC 2 final and WC 12 bronze. Iceland enter next, and their quarterfinal pedigree means this group is far from settled.
Argentina took early control of Group F with a 2-1 win over Mexico. L. Lopez Figueroa Castellanos opened the scoring, Efren Oliva equalised before half-time, and Gerard Rivero decided it in the 85th minute before being named man of the match.
Finland and Israel played out a 0-0 draw, with Yakov Florence named man of the match from defence. It was a useful point for both, but also a missed chance to move level with Argentina.
Colombia, a recent regular in the U17 World Cup Last 16, have yet to play. Their entrance against Finland could quickly reshape the top-two race.
Group G began with balance rather than separation. Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 0-0 with Spain, while Czech republic and Greece drew 1-1.
Andjelko Parmic was named man of the match for Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Theophilus Adriopoulos earned the honor for Greece after scoring in the 16th minute. M. Rosenberg rescued a point for Czech republic in the 76th minute.
With China still to enter, no team has yet made a decisive move. Bosnia and Herzegovina bring a champion’s history, Czech republic have also won the tournament, and Spain are searching for a return to World Cup relevance after recent qualification struggles.
Poland, the reigning U17 World Cup champion, began with a 3-0 win over the United States of America. Nikodem Andruczyk scored twice and was named man of the match, though his injury in a club friendly means Poland must now continue this round without him.
The USA manager must answer for a severe opening defeat, especially given the country’s WC 29 title and WC 25 bronze. A 3-0 loss leaves little margin for recovery.
England also started strongly, beating South Africa 2-0 through goals from W. Harman and W. Skinner. With Austria still to play, Group H already has its two early leaders, but Poland’s injury setback could become a major storyline.
Netherlands opened Group I with a 3-2 win over Portugal in one of the strongest matches of Round 1. M. Salomons scored twice, S. Penning added the winner and was named man of the match, while A. Abrantes struck twice for Portugal.
For Portugal, a nation with a WC 22 silver and WC 30 bronze, conceding three in the opener puts pressure on the manager immediately.
Estonia and Serbia drew 1-1, with A. Pung scoring early and V. Jovanovic equalising late. Tihomir Belojevic took man-of-the-match honors for Serbia. India enter next, and their first result could define whether this becomes a four-team fight or a full five-team scramble.
Germany lead Group J after a 3-1 win over Ireland. D. Dietrich scored twice, L. Hudak added another, and Dietrich was named man of the match despite being listed as goalkeeper.
Japan and Bangladesh drew 1-1, with H. Hyderi scoring first for Bangladesh and Y. Ibu equalising for Japan. Minoru Sawamatsu was named man of the match.
In a four-team group, every match carries extra weight. Germany already have breathing room, while Ireland’s manager must quickly repair a defence that conceded three in the opener.
Scotland delivered the wildest win of the opening round, beating Italy 5-3. Murray Brown scored twice, while D. Williamson, S. Clark and J. Corbat also found the net. For Italy, G. Palazzo scored twice and K. Russo added another, but it was not enough.
Conceding five makes this an extreme result, and the Italian national team manager must take responsibility. Italy have a WC 14 final in their history and reached the Last 16 in WC 31, so this defensive collapse cannot be brushed aside.
Hungary beat Bolivia 1-0 through G. Vadocz, with Istvan Novotni named man of the match. Australia have yet to play, but Scotland’s goal difference gives them the early headline position.
Romania Send Message, New Zealand Survive Albania Fightback
Romania made one of the strongest starts of the round, beating Algeria 5-1. A. Ganovici, F. Munteanu, M. Fanaru, D. Stanescu and A. Antonescu all scored, while Algeria’s only reply came from A. Zorgane.
This was an extreme defeat, and Algeria’s national team manager must take the blame. Algeria have a past fourth-place finish, but this opener leaves them with immediate damage to repair.
New Zealand also won, defeating Albania 3-2. M. Sands scored early, V. Shakespear added two, and Matt Sands was named man of the match. Albania’s late goals from N. Grashtica and S. Geci made the scoreline close, but New Zealand still joined Romania on three points.
Peru enter next, and with Romania already looking dangerous, the fight for the second qualifying place could become fierce very quickly.
