With a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals on the line, the European Qualifiers enter the last stage with four team looking to book their place in the continental showpiece.
With the new 48-team World Cup format set for the summer, there are six final places up for grabs in the biggest edition of the global spectacle.
Four of the six teams will be from Europe, while the remaining two emerging from a new intercontinental tournament hosted in Mexico.
Kosovo are on the brink of a first ever appearance at the World Cup but have a stern test against Turkey standing in their way. Can the minnows upset their opponents to make history? Here we have a look at all four games scheduled for Tuesday night, weight either team’s strengths and offer our predicted outcome for the highly anticipated matches.
Kosovo vs Turkey – 9:45PM
Kosovo did extremely well to withstand a late Slovakia comeback in the semis, holding out for a 4-3 win. The victory extended their unbeaten run to six matches as they prepare for this clash.
Kosovo are unbeaten in eight games on home soil, relying on their home advantage to push them through here. They only joined FIFA and UEFA in 2016, showing remarkable fight to be on the brink of history.
Turkey beat Romania 1-0 in their semifinal in Istanbul on Thursday, stretching their unbeaten run to five games. They are tipped as favorites heading into this encounter. Turkey has won all three games played against Kosovo in their history – scoring 12 goals and conceding just two.
Prediction – Both teams to score
Sweden vs Poland – 9:45PM
This is the second time that Sweden will square off against Poland in a FIFA World Cup qualification playoff final. Poland were 2-0 winners on that occasion, booking a spot in the 2022 finals.
Sweden convincingly beat Ukraine 3-1 in the semis last Thursday, while Poland came from behind to defeat Albania 2-1 and advance to the finals.
Poland are chasing a third consecutive World Cup appearance for only a second time in their history. They bring a seven-game unbeaten streak into this do or die clash.
The hosts on the other hand have only won two of their last five home matches, with this proving to be the toughest test yet. Sweden will however be confident after securing their first win under new manager Graham Potter.
Prediction – Over 2.5 goals
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Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Italy – 9:45PM
Bosnia may be the underdogs in this encounter but they carry the weight of the entire nation on their shoulders. The home team are seeking only a second appearance at a major tournament – they only featured at the 2014 World Cup.
Italy on the other hand, find themselves in the qualification playoffs for the third consecutive time. Both previous occasions they fell to Sweden and North Macedonia, missing out on two consecutive World Cup finals.
Bosnia beat Wales 4-2 on penalties in the semis on Thursday, after playing out to a 1-1 draw in regular time. While Italy were 2-0 winners against Northern Ireland courtesy of goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
Italy has won four of the five matches played against Bosnia in their history – they only ever dropped points in a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Nations League in 2020.
Prediction – Italy to win
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Czech Republic vs Denmark – 9:45PM
The Czech fought hard to defeat Ireland 4-3 on penalties, booking a spot in Tuesday’s finals. There was nothing to separate the sides in regular time, as they settle for a 2-2 draw. They host a clinical Denmark side who steamrolled North Macedonia in an emphatic 4-0 home win on Thursday. They are also unbeaten in their last seven matches played against Czech Republic.
The hosts will be no pushover as they aim to extend their recent brilliant run of form. The Czech have lost just two of their last 16 international matches – with none of those defeats coming at home.
Both these sides come into the game on the back of a similar run of form that has seen them win three of their last five matches. With only one defeat to each their names in that run, it sets this up to be a rather evenly-matched affair.
Prediction – Both teams to score
Photo: REUTERS/Kemal Aslan
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