The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continued on Thursday with key qualifying matches played across Africa and Europe, producing dramatic results and surprising scorelines.
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Ghana Held by Chad in Africa
The Black Stars of Ghana were left frustrated after a 1-1 draw against Chad. Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew gave Ghana the lead, but Celestin Ecua equalized for Chad in the closing stages to deny the West Africans maximum points.
Elsewhere in Africa, Cameroon thrashed Eswatini 3-0, while Tunisia beat Liberia with the same scoreline. Mali also recorded a 3-0 victory over Comoros, keeping their qualification hopes on track.
Germany Stunned by Slovakia
In Europe, former World Cup winners Germany suffered a historic 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava — their first-ever away loss in World Cup qualifying history.
- David Hancko opened the scoring in the 42nd minute.
- David Strelec doubled the lead shortly after halftime, sealing a famous win for Slovakia.
Spain Dominate Bulgaria
Meanwhile, Spain cruised to a 3-0 victory against Bulgaria at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia. First-half goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella, and Mikel Merino ensured a comfortable night for La Roja as they strengthened their qualification campaign.
