FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: 5 big matches to watch out for in September

With England, Portugal, France, Spain, and Germany set to be in action, here are the five big matches to watch out for in September in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Image | FIFA.com

The September window for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 is a crucial phase in the qualification journey. The European qualifiers will see matchdays 5 and 6 taking place from September 4 to September 10, 2025, featuring key matches between top European teams.

These matches will be important for teams to either consolidate their positions at the top of their groups or to battle for crucial points to stay in contention for direct qualification or playoffs.

Read Also: FIFA World Cup 2026: When and where is the World Cup draw?

The qualifiers span across multiple confederations, with several decisive encounters happening worldwide to decide the final teams for the tournament to be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.

Teams that have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup

13 teams, excluding the hosts, have already booked their spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The co-host nations, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, automatically qualified as hosts. Other confirmed teams include:

Five big matches to watch in the September 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Germany vs Northern Ireland (September 7, UEFA Group A)

Germany, a perennial powerhouse, aims to secure direct qualification, while Northern Ireland looks to upset the plans and claim crucial points to keep playoff hopes alive.

This will be the first match of their group (Group A), and any upsets in early games can make it tough for bigger teams to qualify for the mega event next year. Germany will be without some of their legendary players like Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller, who have announced international retirements recently.

Germany Squad:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nnamdi Collins, Robin Koch (both Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart), David Raum (Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi, Pascal Groß (Dortmund), Robert Andrich (Leverkusen), Nadiem Amiri, Paul Nebel (both Mainz), Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich (all Bayern), Jamie Leweling, Angelo Stiller (both Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

Forwards: Niclas Füllkrug (West Ham), Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart)

Meantime, Northern Ireland will look to depend on Liverpool star Conor Bradley and West Ham United defender Callum Marshall for their success.

Northern Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers – Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers).

Defenders – Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard (both Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).

Midfielders – George Saville (Luton Town), Shea Charles (Southampton), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Caolan Boyd-Munce (Wycombe Wanderers), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Callum Marshall (West Ham United), Jamie Donley (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).

Forwards - Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Dale Taylor (Blackpool), Ronan Hale (Ross County).

2. Turkey vs Spain (September 7, UEFA Group E)

A high-profile Group E clash between Spain, a European heavyweight, and Turkey, an emerging threat, the match will significantly impact the race for the top spot in the group. Spain seeks to maintain dominance after their defeat in the UEFA Nations League final, while Turkey aims for a breakthrough.

PSG star Fabian Ruiz has been ruled out of the Spain squad for the qualifiers, while Joan Garcia could not make it to the final squad despite a good show for Barcelona.

Spain squad:

Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedri (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona), Alvaro Morata (Como), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Jesus Rodriguez (Como).

On the other hand, Turkie will be hoping that Arda Guler will be among the goalsheet along with Kenan Yildiz.

There is no information about the Turkish squad yet.

3. Serbia vs England (September 10, UEFA Group K)

England will travel to Serbia for what promises to be a tense and intense encounter, reflecting the competitive spirit of European qualifiers.

England are currently at the top of Group K with 9 points from three games. Meantime, Serbia are at number three position after one draw and one win in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Get the full England squad here.

Thomas Tuchel has named the England squad without Trent Alexander-Arnold while Serbia have named their squad with stars like Valhovic, Mirtovic, and Sasha Lukic.

Serbia squad:

GOALKEEPERS
Djordje PETROVIC Bournemouth

Veljko ILIC TSC
Dragan ROSIC Vojvodina
DEFENSE
Nikola MILENKOVIC Nottingham Forest
Strahinja PAVLOVIĆ Milan
Srdjan BABIC Spartak Moscow
Strahinja ERAKOVIC Zenit
Milos Veljkovic Red Star
Nemanja STOJIC Maccabi Tel Aviv
Aleksa TERZIC RB Salzburg
Kosta NEDELJKOVIC RB Leipzig
MIDFIELD
Sasha LUKIC Fulham
Nemanja MAKSIMOVIĆ Shabab Al Ahli
Nemanja GUDELJ Seville
Lazar SAMARDZIC Atalanta
Filip KOSTIĆ Juventus
Veljko BIRMANČEVIĆ Sparta Prague
Andrija ZIVKOVIC PAOK
Ivan ILIC Turin
Uros RAČIĆ Aris
Ognjen UGRESIC Partizan
ATTACK
Aleksandar MITROVIC Al Hilal
Dusan VLAHOVIC Juventus
Luka Jovic AEK
Aleksandar KATAI Red Star
Nikola ŠTULIC Lece

4. France vs Iceland (September 9, UEFA Group D):

France, a world champion contender, faces Iceland in a match where every point counts.

France aims to assert its dominance early in the qualifiers, while Iceland tries to leverage home advantage and disrupt the giants.

Hugo Ekitike was added to the final squad after Ryan Cherki missed out on selection due to an injury. Iceland, on the other hand, will boost its squad with the Fiorentina striker
Albert Guðmundsson.

Read Also: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Liverpool star gets maiden France call after Cherki’s exclusion

5. Hungary vs Portugal (September 10, UEFA Group F):

Portugal, the UEFA Nations League 2025 winners, led by their star players, will face Hungary in a match crucial for qualification steps.

With Portugal often battling stronger European opponents, this match is key to securing a top group spot.

Both teams are yet to be announced.

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