World Cup Qualifiers – England outclassed Latvia, Poland cruised past Malta
England needed Reece James’s stunning free-kick to inspire a 3-goal victory against Latvia at home. Meanwhile, Poland defeated Malta despite resting Robert Lewandowski until the 60th minute.
After the UEFA Nations League clashes, the European qualifiers for World Cup 2026 started with England, Norway, and more teams starting the race to the joint event hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year.
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England 3-0 Latvia – Reece James’ Stunning Free-Kick Lights Up Wembley
Under new manager Thomas Tuchel, England secured their second consecutive victory, a feat not achieved since Fabio Capello’s tenure.
Hosting Latvia at Wembley, the Three Lions dominated from the start, creating numerous scoring opportunities in the first half. However, wasteful finishing and a few nervy moments—including errors from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and defender Marc Guéhi—prevented an early breakthrough.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute by Reece James, a player Tuchel previously coached at Chelsea. The right-back curled in a stunning free-kick, sending the Wembley crowd into celebration, with Tuchel himself leaving the dugout to join in the excitement.
In the second half, England intensified their attacking pressure. The introductions of Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden added creativity to the attack, and between the 68th and 76th minute, England put the game beyond doubt. Harry Kane doubled the lead before Eze showcased his dribbling skills with a solo effort to seal the 3-0 victory.
Despite Latvia’s attempts to grab a consolation goal, England’s defense held firm. With this win, England solidified their position at the top of Group K in the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers with six points from two matches, marking an impressive start under Tuchel.
Poland 2-0 Malta – Comfortable Win Without Lewandowski
Poland secured a straightforward victory over minnows Malta, even with star striker Robert Lewandowski starting on the bench.
Karol Świderski was the night’s hero, scoring twice in the 27th and 51st minutes to put Poland in complete control. Lewandowski was introduced in the 66th minute but did not add to the scoreline. The only late drama came when Malta’s Chouaref received a direct red card in the 90th minute.
With this result, Poland sits atop Group G with a perfect six points from two matches.
Other Results from European Qualifiers of World Cup 2026
- San Marino 1-5 Romania
- Albania 3-0 Andorra
- Bosnia 2-1 Cyprus
- Lithuania 2-2 Finland
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