Soccer fans are witnessing some dramatic international qualifying matches as France secures its spot in the 2026 World Cup and Portugal faces unexpected challenges.

Kylian Mbappé proved once again why he’s considered one of the world’s most electrifying players, scoring two goals and helping France crush Ukraine 4-0 in a dominant performance. The victory means France is officially heading to the 2026 World Cup, continuing their momentum from being runners-up in the 2022 tournament.

In a shocking turn of events, Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off during Portugal’s match against Ireland after elbowing defender Dara O’Shea. The red card means Ronaldo will be banned from Portugal’s crucial final qualifying match against Armenia. Ireland stunned the Portuguese team with a 2-0 victory, putting significant pressure on their World Cup aspirations.

Other notable performances included Norway’s Erling Haaland, who continued his goal-scoring prowess by netting two goals in a 4-1 victory against Estonia. This result virtually guarantees Norway’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

England also maintained its perfect qualifying record, defeating Serbia 2-0 at Wembley Stadium without conceding a single goal. Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze were responsible for the goals that kept England’s World Cup campaign on track.

As the qualifying rounds draw to a close, soccer fans are witnessing high-stakes drama, unexpected turns, and remarkable performances that will shape the lineup for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.