Slovakia Shocks Germany as Spain and Türkiye Secure Wins in European 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
The opening day of the UEFA European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup produced thrilling results, highlighted by Slovakia’s historic 2-0 victory over Germany. Meanwhile, Spain and Türkiye also celebrated successful starts to their campaigns.
Slovakia Makes History Against Germany
Slovakia achieved their first competitive win against Germany as an independent nation. The match, held in Bratislava, saw Dávid Hancko score a crucial counterattacking goal just before halftime, giving Slovakia a 1-0 lead. Shortly after the break, David Strelec doubled the advantage, curling in a beautiful effort that left the German side, managed by Julian Nagelsmann, reeling. This defeat marked Germany’s third consecutive loss, raising questions about their form as they navigate the qualifiers.
Spain Dominates Bulgaria
Spain cruised to a convincing 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in Sofia, signaling their intent in Group E. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the fifth minute, followed by a stunning strike from Marc Cucurella and a header from Mikel Merino, ensuring a comfortable lead by halftime. Although Bulgaria threatened in the second half, goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov made several key saves to preserve Spain’s clean sheet.
Türkiye Edges Georgia in Thrilling Match
In Tbilisi, Türkiye survived a late scare to defeat Georgia 3-2. Mert Müldür’s early header set the tone, and Kerem Aktürkoğlu added two more goals to give Türkiye a commanding 3-0 lead. However, Georgia fought back, with Zuriko Davitashvili and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia narrowing the gap, but ultimately fell short as Türkiye held on for the win.
In Group J, Belgium showcased their strength with a 6-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein, led by captain Youri Tielemans, who scored twice. Wales also emerged victorious in Kazakhstan, with Kieffer Moore marking his 50th international appearance with the only goal of the match.
In a closely contested match in Group G, the Netherlands and Poland played to a 1-1 draw, with Matty Cash scoring a late equalizer for Poland after Denzel Dumfries had given the Dutch the lead.
