World Cup 32 Qualifying Turns Ruthless as Leaders Stretch the Field
The 32nd World Cup qualification cycle has moved into its seventh round for most groups, while Group E reaches its fifth in the shorter four-team format. With only the top two nations in each group moving on, the return leg is already beginning to separate genuine contenders from teams that are running out of time. The latest round brought statement wins, costly draws and a few damaging collapses, while several traditional names now face pressure just to stay alive. From Albania’s surge to Poland’s control, from Group G’s traffic jam to Group E’s dramatic reshuffle, the road to the World Cup is narrowing fast.
Albania took full command of the group with a 1:0 win over Denmark, as Bledar Miftari struck the decisive goal before Dimat Carcani protected another crucial result in goal. Denmark remain second, but the gap has grown to five points, while Germany’s 2:2 draw in Russia left last cycle’s runners-up stuck in the chasing pack.
The next round gives Albania another major test away to Germany, who badly need a win to keep their campaign alive. Denmark host Sweden in a direct fight to protect second place, with Sweden still close enough to turn the qualification race back into a three-team contest.
Bulgaria kept first place while sitting out the round, but the pressure behind them increased. Uruguay beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2:1 to climb into second, while Algeria stayed level on points with a controlled 2:0 win over Ireland. Bosnia and Herzegovina, beaten for the third time, are now chasing from a difficult position.
The next round could be uncomfortable for the leaders: Bosnia and Herzegovina host Bulgaria knowing that defeat may push them too far back, while Uruguay travel to Ireland with a chance to strengthen their grip on the top two. Algeria will watch closely from their bye week.
Positions: 1st - Brazil (10 points), 2nd - Norway (10 points), 3rd - Romania (6 points), 4th - Israel (5 points), 5th - Argentina (1 point)
Norway Join Brazil at the Summit
Norway moved level with Brazil on ten points after beating Argentina 2:1, with Oliver Steinnes and Jo Leknes doing the damage before the break. Romania and Israel drew 1:1, a result that kept both alive but helped the top two more than either chasing side. Argentina remain bottom with one point from five matches.
Brazil return in the next round away to Romania, a fixture that could either restore their cushion or reopen the group. Argentina host Israel in a match where pride and survival meet, with Israel still close enough to believe if they can turn draws into wins.
Croatia underlined their authority with a 4:1 win over Estonia, led by goals from Niksa Pavlovic, Mario Pavlovic and a double from Vjekoslav Roko. Estonia’s unbeaten run ended sharply, while Thailand climbed into the conversation by beating Greece 2:0 through two Niraphan Ekabut goals.
Croatia now travel to Greece with a chance to move even closer to qualification. The key fight is behind them, where Estonia host Chile. Chile remain second despite sitting out the previous round, but Estonia can pull themselves right back into the race with a response.
South Korea produced the round’s most dramatic result, beating Peru 12:0 and moving to the top of the short group. Dong Min Chun scored seven times in a brutal display, while the scale of Peru’s collapse lands squarely on the national team manager. Netherlands also did their job, beating Serbia 1:0 through Xian Siebes to stay level with South Korea on seven points.
The next round brings a direct summit meeting between South Korea and Netherlands, with first place on the line. Serbia face Peru in the other match, and both need a reaction: Serbia are still winless, while Peru must prove the 12:0 defeat was not the moment their campaign broke.
Belgium moved three points clear at the top with a narrow 1:0 win over Bolivia, decided by Adrien Adam in the 77th minute and protected again by Bellamy Poncelet. Bolivia suffered their first defeat of the campaign, while India and New Zealand drew 1:1, a result that did little for either side’s hopes.
Belgium now travel to New Zealand looking to extend their lead, but the biggest match is Bolivia vs Turkey. Turkey still have a game in hand on Belgium and remain unbeaten, while Bolivia need a win to avoid losing contact with the top two.
England changed the shape of the group with a 1:0 win over Slovenia, Jarvis Harman scoring late to pull them level with the leaders on points. Rep. of Montenegro also made a major move, beating South Africa 2:0 and climbing within one point of the top two. Slovenia still lead, but the margin has almost disappeared.
The next round could tighten things even further. South Africa host England needing a response, while Slovenia face France in a match that matters to both ends of the race. France have a game in hand, but another missed opportunity would leave them in serious trouble.
Positions: 1st - Spain (11 points), 2nd - Portugal (7 points), 3rd - Malta (7 points), 4th - Austria (5 points), 5th - Latvia (1 point)
Spain Stay Safe, Portugal Still Searching for Wins
Spain remained unbeaten after a second 0:0 draw with Portugal, keeping control of first place but leaving the group’s second ticket very much alive. Portugal are also unbeaten, yet four draws from five matches have kept them from pulling away. Austria and Latvia also drew 0:0, a result that helped Malta most of all while they sat out the round.
Portugal now host Latvia in a match they will be expected to win if they want to look like serious top-two contenders. Austria face Malta in the round’s decisive chase fixture, with Malta able to move back into second outright if they take the points.
Finland climbed to the top with a late 1:0 win in Australia, Juhani Mustonen scoring in the 85th minute to complete another tight away result. Bangladesh slipped to second after a 1:0 defeat against Slovakia, while Slovakia’s win pulled them back into the outer edge of the qualification picture.
The next round gives Bangladesh an immediate pressure match against Australia. A win would steady their campaign, but defeat would drag Australia right back into the top-two fight. Finland host Iceland with a chance to protect first place and keep the group moving in their direction.
Moldova and Colombia both won 1:0 and turned a three-team chase into a more demanding race for China. Moldova edged Canada through Vasile Turcan, while Colombia beat China through Carlos Andres Rojas and still have not conceded a goal in five qualifiers. China remain third, but the gap to the top two is now four points.
The next round gives the leaders a chance to strengthen their position. Colombia host Canada, while Moldova face the winless Czech republic. China have the bye, which means they can only watch and hope the top two finally drop points.
Poland continued their steady march with a 1:0 win away to the United States of America, Leszek Dziedziczak scoring the only goal. Switzerland strengthened second place by beating Venezuela 3:1, with Jason Walter scoring twice. Poland are now four points clear, while Switzerland have opened space over the chasing sides.
The next round brings two matches with very different stakes. Poland host Italy, who have a game in hand but badly need a statement result. Switzerland face the United States knowing that another win would make second place much harder to reach for the rest.
Scotland stayed top but were held 0:0 by Mexico after failing to field all 11 infield players, a costly national team management issue even if the leaders escaped with a point. Hungary kept their hopes alive with a 2:1 win over Japan, powered by two Krisztian Szucs goals.
Scotland now sit out the next round, giving Lithuania a chance to move level at the top if they beat Japan. Mexico vs Hungary is the other key match: Hungary can continue their climb, while Mexico need a win to avoid being pushed further away from the qualification places.
Return Fixtures, Rising Pressure, and No Safe Leads
The 32nd U21 World Cup qualification campaign has entered the stage where every meeting carries history. The opening half has created leaders, exposed weaknesses, and produced more than a few surprises; now the return fixtures are beginning to test whether those early stories were real trends or temporary swings.
For most groups, this is the seventh round of the campaign, while Group B continues on its shorter schedule with round five. With only the top two teams in each group qualifying for the U21 World Cup, the pressure is now sharper than ever. Some teams are chasing revenge, others are trying to protect narrow advantages, and a few former powers already look dangerously close to losing control of their qualification hopes.
Here is how the next round looks across the groups.
Bolivia strengthened their grip on Group A with a 3:1 win over Slovakia, led by another Pascual Yarzan masterclass. The former world champions now sit four points clear of Slovakia and five ahead of France, giving them a real chance to turn the return fixture against Venezuela into another step toward qualification.
Slovakia host Italy in the other match, and the stakes are very different. Slovakia need a response after losing to Bolivia, while Italy remain winless and already carry the burden of a campaign that has gone badly wrong. Their earlier 3:0 defeat to Slovakia, in a match where they did not field all eleven players, remains a managerial stain that has not yet been erased.
The smallest group is heading into round five with nothing settled. Lithuania and Estonia are level on seven points, while Thailand are still close behind on five.
Lithuania host Thailand in a match that could either restore their authority or drag them deeper into a three-way struggle. Estonia, fresh from beating Lithuania 3:1, visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose campaign has been deeply disappointing. The former champions have only two points from four matches, and their manager is quickly running out of explanations.
Slovenia remain the cleanest story in the entire qualification cycle: five matches, five wins, fifteen goals scored, none conceded. Their next test is the biggest one available in the group, a trip to Hungary, who sit second with twelve points.
The first meeting between these two ended 4:0 for Slovenia, so Hungary have both a qualification opportunity and a reputation issue to address. Elsewhere, China host Austria in a match that matters mostly for the chasing pack. Austria still have a faint chance to threaten the top two, but after losing 5:1 to Hungary and 5:0 to Slovenia, their manager has already been left with plenty to answer for.
Spain moved top with a narrow 2:1 win over Canada, but this group remains packed behind them. Scotland have nine points from four matches, South Africa also sit on nine after beating India, and Spain cannot afford to treat their lead as comfortable.
The next round sends Spain to India, where the hosts badly need a statement result after falling to South Africa. Canada host Scotland in the other fixture, and after conceding twenty-one goals in five matches, the Canadian manager remains under heavy pressure. Scotland will see this as a major chance to keep pace with Spain or even reclaim first place.
Denmark and Turkey are level on twelve points, with Mexico still close behind on nine. Denmark did their part last round by beating Mexico 2:1, while Turkey survived a difficult trip to Greece with the same scoreline.
This round gives Turkey a chance to keep pace at the top when they host Germany. The first meeting ended in a 4:1 Turkish win, and Germany’s campaign has never fully recovered from that result. Mexico, meanwhile, host winless Greece. Anything less than victory would be a major blow to their hopes of staying in the top-two race.
Group F remains one of the tightest sections in the campaign. Sweden and Iceland are level on eight points, Israel are just one point behind, and even Ireland and Chile are still close enough to matter.
Iceland host Chile, who beat them 3:1 in the first meeting but have since slipped to the bottom of the group. Israel host Sweden in another crucial match. Sweden won the first meeting 2:0, but Israel arrive with momentum after beating Chile 2:0. A victory for either side could reshape the table immediately.
Group G has suddenly become unpredictable. Algeria still lead, but their 5:3 defeat to New Zealand changed the tone completely. Conceding five against the bottom side is not a small warning; it puts clear responsibility on the Algerian manager to restore control quickly.
They now host unbeaten Serbia, who have drawn three of their four matches and remain firmly in the qualification race. Belgium, level with Algeria on eight points, do not play this round, so Serbia have a chance to climb. The other match sees Albania host New Zealand, with both sides needing victory to stay relevant in the chase.
Brazil continue to look like defending champions in full control. Five wins from five, fifteen goals scored and only one conceded have left the group largely fighting for the second qualification place.
That makes Russia against Australia the key match of the round. Australia are second with nine points, but Russia have moved onto seven after a 4:1 win over Peru. Peru did not field all eleven players in that defeat, and the result reflects very badly on their manager. Brazil, meanwhile, host Rep. of Montenegro and will be expected to keep their perfect record alive.
Argentina still lead Group I, but their 1:0 defeat to Switzerland has changed the mood. They have ten points, yet Croatia and Malta are both just one point behind, with Malta having played one match fewer.
Argentina visit bottom side Bangladesh, a fixture they must win to steady the campaign. Croatia are not in action, so Malta have a major chance to apply pressure when they visit Switzerland. Switzerland are now on seven points after beating Argentina, meaning this group has suddenly become far more open than it looked a round ago.
Poland remain first, but the group around them is tightening. The Netherlands finally converted their unbeaten run into a win by beating England 2:1, climbing to second place and setting up a major meeting with Poland.
That match could define the top of Group J. Poland still have a game in hand, but the Dutch are unbeaten and now have momentum. In the other fixture, Latvia host England. Latvia just beat Norway, while England have lost two straight matches. For a team that finished third at the last U21 World Cup, England’s manager is already facing uncomfortable questions.
Portugal remain top of Group K with ten points from four matches, while the United States of America have climbed to second after beating Czech republic 1:0.
The USA now travel to Bulgaria, a team they crushed 5:0 in the first meeting. Bulgaria have shown they can spring surprises, but another heavy defeat would again put the blame squarely on the manager. The headline fixture is Czech republic against Portugal. The first meeting ended 1:1, and the Czechs now need a result to stop the top two from slipping away.
Group L: Moldova Lead, but Romania and Finland Are Coming
Moldova still lead Group L, but back-to-back draws have slowed their charge. Their extraordinary 12:1 win over Finland still defines their goal difference, but the table now shows real pressure behind them.
The next round brings a crucial match between Moldova and Finland. Finland sit level with Romania on seven points and have played one match fewer than Moldova, making this a genuine qualification battle. South Korea host Japan in the other fixture, with South Korea trying to recover from three consecutive defeats. Japan remain winless, but their draw with Moldova showed they can still complicate the race.
The return fixtures are now fully alive. Some leaders are trying to turn narrow advantages into control, while the chasing pack is finding new ways to make the race uncomfortable. With every group offering only two World Cup tickets, the next round could decide which teams are contenders and which are simply running out of road.
World Cup Qualifiers (U19)
Return Legs Raise the Stakes as U19 Qualification Tightens
The 32nd U19 World Cup qualification campaign has entered the return half, and the seventh round arrives with several groups suddenly looking far less predictable than they did a few weeks ago.
Round 6 already showed how quickly momentum can turn. Australia overtook Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy held Russia after previously stunning Scotland, Uruguay and England both shook up Group H, while South Africa and Montenegro both dropped points in Group I. With only the top two teams in each group qualifying for the U19 World Cup, the margin for recovery is shrinking fast.
Most groups now move into their seventh round, while Group G follows its shorter four-team schedule and reaches its fifth matchday instead. Across the board, the coming fixtures offer leaders a chance to build separation, chasers a chance to close the gap, and struggling teams perhaps their last realistic opportunity to stay alive.
Australia Lead, Sweden Threaten, Bosnia Need a Response
Australia have taken control of Group A after a 2-1 victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chad Parsons scored twice, once again proving decisive, and Australia now sit top with ten points from five matches.
Bosnia and Herzegovina remain second, but their unbeaten start is gone and the pressure is rising. Their trip to the Czech republic in Round 7 now carries real importance, especially with Sweden still unbeaten and only two points behind them with a match in hand.
The other fixture, Australia against Sweden, may be the true headline. Australia can strengthen their grip on first place, while Sweden know a victory would turn their run of draws into a genuine qualification charge.
Group B has tightened dramatically. Scotland bounced back from their defeat to Italy by beating Spain 4-0, but Russia kept pace with a 1-1 draw in Italy. The result leaves Scotland first on twelve points and Russia second on ten.
That makes Russia versus Scotland the defining fixture of the round. Scotland won the first meeting 4-1, but Russia have recovered strongly since then and will know that victory would send them above the group leaders.
Thailand also have a major opportunity as they face Spain. Spain's campaign has already been wrecked by a series of catastrophic results, and responsibility for those extreme defeats rightly fell on the national team management. Thailand cannot afford to waste the chance to keep pressure on Italy and Russia.
Slovenia remain perfect after five wins from five, and their 3-1 victory over Bangladesh in Round 6 kept them in complete control of Group C. Klemen Marini scored all three goals and continues to drive one of the strongest attacks in qualification.
The battle behind them is far less settled. Algeria defeated Latvia 1-0, pulling level with the Latvians on nine points and turning the second qualification place into a direct fight.
Round 7 gives both challengers a chance to make their case while Slovenia sit out. Algeria travel to Bangladesh, while Latvia host Greece. Anything less than victory for either contender could prove costly before the decisive meetings still to come.
Lithuania Pull Away as Poland Face a Dangerous Trip
Lithuania continue to be one of the stories of the U19 campaign. Their 2-1 victory over the Netherlands moved them to twelve points and strengthened their position at the top of Group D.
Poland, the reigning U19 World Cup champions, remain second but have played one match fewer than several rivals. Their problem is that the next fixture is not simple: a trip to the Netherlands, who badly need a win to remain in the qualification race.
Lithuania travel to India and will be expected to protect their lead, though India already shocked Poland once in this campaign. Turkey sit level with Poland on seven points and will watch closely during their round off.
The United States moved level with Croatia on twelve points after a 2-1 victory over Albania, but they have played one match more. Croatia, still perfect from four matches, now return to action with a chance to reclaim clear control.
Estonia versus Croatia is the key fixture. Estonia are third on seven points and still close enough to dream, but they need something special against a Croatian side that has scored eighteen goals in four matches.
Albania and Japan meet in the other match. Japan are trying to stay within reach of the middle of the table, while Albania are still searching for their first point after five defeats.
Moldova and Romania Keep Moving, South Korea Need Help
Moldova and Romania continue to pull away in Group F. Moldova edged Mexico 2-1 in Round 6, while Romania defeated South Korea 3-1 to open a five-point gap over the Koreans.
Round 7 gives the top two a chance to increase that separation. Romania host Mexico, while Moldova face Portugal, who remain without a point from four matches.
South Korea sit out the round and will hope at least one of the leaders slips. If both Moldova and Romania win, the qualification race could begin to look like a two-team duel for first place rather than a three-team battle for two spots.
Group G follows a shorter schedule, so while the other sections move into Round 7, this group reaches its fifth matchday. The stakes, however, are just as high.
Peru lead with nine points after beating Slovakia 2-1, while Germany and Norway sit just behind on seven. Norway revived their campaign by beating Germany 2-0, keeping all three leading teams alive in the fight for two World Cup places.
The standout match is Peru against Germany. A Peruvian victory would create a major gap at the top, while Germany can move back into first place with a win. Norway, meanwhile, must take care of Slovakia and hope the other result helps them.
Group H has become one of the most unpredictable groups of the cycle. Belgium still lead with eight points, but their 1-0 defeat to Uruguay opened the door for everyone behind them.
Iceland also suffered a damaging setback, losing 3-2 to England after once looking dominant in this group. England's response has been impressive since their terrible 9-0 opening defeat, but that extreme result still belongs on the national team manager's record.
Round 7 could reshape the table again. Iceland host Uruguay, while Belgium face Bolivia. Bolivia have played one match fewer than Belgium and can move into the top two with the right result, making this one of the round's most important groups.
Rep. of Montenegro remain top of Group I, but their 1-1 draw with Israel prevented them from creating real distance. South Africa also stumbled, losing 2-1 to Canada, which allowed the group to tighten again.
Bulgaria now have a huge opportunity. They sit third with seven points from four matches and travel to Montenegro knowing that victory would send them level with the group leaders.
South Africa host Israel in the other fixture and need a response after the Canada defeat. With Montenegro, South Africa and Bulgaria all still firmly in the qualification fight, this round could decide who controls the group heading into the final stretch.
Group J remains packed at the top. Venezuela, Denmark and Chile are all on eight points, while France are close behind on six.
Round 6 did little to separate them. Malta held Venezuela to a 1-1 draw, while Chile and France played out a 2-2 result that kept both sides alive but denied either a major jump.
The round's headline match is Venezuela versus Denmark. Denmark have a match in hand and remain unbeaten, while Venezuela need a win to protect their place at the top. France host Malta and cannot afford anything less than victory if they want to stay in the race for the two World Cup tickets.
Brazil remain unbeaten and top Group K with thirteen points after another strong performance, this time a 4-1 victory over Hungary. Luis de Lourdes continued his excellent campaign and was again central to Brazil's attack.
New Zealand also made a major move by defeating Argentina 2-1, pushing themselves within one point of Colombia, though Colombia have played one match fewer.
That makes Brazil against Colombia the round's biggest fixture in the group. A Brazilian win would put them on the brink of qualification, while Colombia can turn the race for first place back into a contest. New Zealand face Hungary and will see that match as a chance to keep their own qualification dream alive.
Serbia Lead, Austria Chase, Switzerland Prepare to Re-enter
Serbia strengthened their position at the top of Group L with a 4-0 victory over China. Nebojsa Rapo scored three times, helping Serbia move to twelve points from five matches.
Austria remain close behind after beating Ireland 3-1, while Switzerland sit third with seven points from only four matches. China are still alive mathematically, but the defeat to Serbia made their route much harder.
Round 7 gives Austria and Switzerland the chance to apply pressure while Serbia rest. Austria travel to China, while Switzerland visit Ireland. If both win, the top three will remain tightly grouped heading into the decisive direct clashes still waiting later in the cycle.
The 32nd Under-17 World Cup qualification campaign has entered the stage where every result begins to feel heavier. The first half is now complete for the five-team groups, and the return matches are underway. Familiar opponents meet again, but this time the standings are sharper, the margins are smaller and the consequences are clearer.
Only the top two teams in each group will qualify for the U17 World Cup, which means the seventh round brings both opportunity and danger. Some favourites are already pulling away, while several former powers are now fighting simply to remain relevant in the qualification race.
Group J, the smallest group of this cycle, follows its own rhythm and reaches its fifth round, but the stakes are just as high. Across the competition, this is the point where contenders must prove they can finish what they started.
Brazil remain perfect, even though they have played one match fewer than most of the group. Their 6:0 win over Russia, achieved despite not fielding all 11 players, only strengthened the impression that the former champions are operating at another level.
Lithuania have done everything required to keep pace, including a crucial 4:2 win over Croatia in the previous round. Now they host Brazil in the match that could either reopen the battle for first place or effectively confirm Brazil as the dominant force in the group.
For Croatia, the trip to Russia is now about survival. Defeat would leave their qualification hopes badly damaged, while Bulgaria's win over Russia has at least kept the lower half of the group from becoming completely settled.
France Pull Clear as the Battle Behind Them Tightens
France have taken command of Group B, and their 16:0 victory over Malta was the most brutal scoreline of the campaign so far. The French attack was ruthless, but a result that extreme can only fall on the shoulders of the Malta national team manager.
Behind the leaders, the race remains wide open. Sweden, Venezuela and Rep. of Montenegro are separated by very little, and this round brings a major direct clash as Montenegro host Sweden.
Venezuela cannot afford to waste their visit to Malta. After drawing with Montenegro and losing narrowly to France, they need three points to stay firmly in the qualification picture.
Canada Face Their Last Big Chance to Join the Elite
Slovenia moved back to the top with a clean 3:0 victory over Slovakia, but Moldova remain unbeaten and have a match in hand. The former world champions continue to look calm, efficient and extremely difficult to beat.
The key match is in Canada, where the hosts welcome Slovenia. Canada are still close enough to dream, but another defeat to one of the top two would leave them with a long road back.
Moldova travel to Slovakia knowing victory would return them to first place. Slovakia and Latvia have already lost significant ground, but Moldova cannot afford to treat this as anything other than a serious test.
Denmark have climbed to the top of the table after a strong 4:1 win away to South Korea, but Chile remain unbeaten and have played one match fewer. Their meeting is the clear headline act of Group D.
Chile won the first match between the sides 4:2, so Denmark now have both revenge and qualification control on their minds. A home victory would make them the group leaders in every practical sense.
Switzerland are still close enough to attack the top two and will look to apply pressure when they face South Korea. Uruguay, meanwhile, remain pointless after five matches and are running out of ways to influence the race.
Turkey continue to lead after a narrow 1:0 victory over Norway, backing up their earlier 5:1 demolition of Belgium. Their position is strong, but not yet secure, with Belgium still only one point behind.
Belgium responded professionally by beating Thailand 3:0, but their next assignment away to Norway is far more dangerous. Norway have beaten Iceland and Thailand, and another victory would pull them back toward the qualification fight.
Iceland visit Thailand needing a win to keep their own hopes alive. Thailand are still pointless, but after several heavy defeats, the pressure is also on their manager to stop the campaign from slipping further into damage limitation.
Argentina restored order after their shock defeat to Finland by beating Mexico 2:0, moving four points clear at the top. Gerard Rivero and Orfeo Grande Ovejero again delivered when it mattered.
The leaders now face Israel, the only side currently close enough to put real pressure on them. Israel's 3:0 win over Finland, powered by a Noam Michaelson hat-trick, moved them into second place and turned this fixture into a major qualification test.
Elsewhere, Colombia return to action against Finland. Both teams need points urgently, but Colombia have played one match fewer and can still force their way back into the top-two conversation.
No team has defended better than Bosnia and Herzegovina. Five matches, no goals conceded, and an 11-point total have placed the former world champions in firm control of Group G.
Now comes another major test: a direct meeting with Greece, who sit second and remain unbeaten themselves. Greece have been less dominant, but they have found ways to collect points and stay in the race.
Spain are slipping into dangerous territory after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they will watch this round closely while China visit Czech Republic. China still have a match in hand, while Czech Republic's campaign is close to collapse.
Poland continue to look every bit like defending world champions. Five wins from five, only one goal conceded, and a 2:0 win over England have given them a commanding position.
With Poland not involved in a direct top-table match this round, the pressure shifts to England. They travel to the United States of America knowing anything less than victory would strengthen Poland's grip and possibly invite Austria back into the race.
Austria visit South Africa with a chance to keep their qualification hopes alive. They are six points behind England but have played one match fewer, making this round a crucial opportunity.
Portugal have transformed their campaign since the opening defeat to the Netherlands. Four straight wins, including a 6:3 revenge victory over the Dutch, have moved them four points clear at the top.
The battle behind them is intense. Estonia stunned Serbia 1:0 and now sit second, while Serbia and the Netherlands are both stuck on seven points.
That makes Netherlands versus Serbia one of the biggest matches of the round. Estonia, meanwhile, host winless India with a chance to strengthen their hold on a qualification place.
The smallest group has already moved into its return fixtures, and Germany remain perfect. Four matches, four wins and only one goal conceded make them overwhelming favourites to qualify.
The real battle is for second place. Ireland and Bangladesh are level on four points, while Japan remain close enough to recover despite still searching for their first win.
Germany host Bangladesh with a chance to move even closer to qualification, while Japan face Ireland in a match that could decide whether they remain serious contenders or fall too far behind.
Scotland have taken control of Group K with back-to-back wins over Australia and Italy. Their 1:0 victory in Italy was not spectacular, but it was exactly the kind of result that qualification campaigns are built on.
They now host Bolivia, who revived their hopes with a 2:0 victory over Hungary. Bolivia already beat Scotland once in this campaign, so the leaders have every reason to treat this as a dangerous match.
Australia travel to Hungary knowing they cannot afford another slip. With a match in hand and only five points separating second from fourth, the group remains very much alive.
Romania have moved top of Group L after a late 1:0 win away to Algeria, but New Zealand remain unbeaten and only one point behind. The top two have begun to separate from the rest, yet the race is not completely closed.
Romania host Albania with an opportunity to strengthen their lead, while New Zealand face a much more delicate task against Peru. Peru have played one match fewer and need a result to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Algeria and Albania remain near the bottom after drawing with each other and struggling to turn competitive performances into wins. For both, the second half of the campaign already looks like a fight to stay relevant.
The seventh round arrives with the qualification picture becoming clearer but far from finished. Brazil, France, Poland, Portugal and Germany are building strong campaigns, while groups such as C, D, F, G, I and K still have enough tension to change dramatically in a single night. In DO's U17 World Cup race, the return fixtures are where pressure starts turning into judgement.
