Germany, Belgium, Switzerland closing in on 2026 World Cup

Germany won in Northern Ireland with a Nick Woltemade goal and Belgium beat Wales on Monday to stand on the brink of a place at next year's World Cup.

Germany have now recorded three consecutive victories in Group A after beginning their campaign with a defeat in Slovakia last month.

Newcastle United forward Woltemade headed in the only goal of the game as Germany beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Belfast, and Julian Nagelsmann's team are top of the group with nine points.

"It was a very important three points for us," Woltemade told Germany's RTL, adding that "in this atmosphere and in a bit of an ugly game, you have to win and we did well".

Slovakia sit second only on goal difference as they defeated Luxembourg 2-0 at home, Adam Obert and Ivan Schranz scoring the goals in the second half.

The 12 group winners in European qualifying will go to the World Cup, with runners-up continuing on to play-offs set for next March -- the meeting between Germany and Slovakia in Leipzig next month will therefore be decisive.

Belgium nearly there

Belgium have almost qualified from Group J after Kevin De Bruyne converted two penalties in a 4-2 win over Wales in Cardiff.

Joe Rodon had given Wales an early lead but De Bruyne's spot-kick double came either side of a Thomas Meunier goal.

Nathan Broadhead pulled it back to 3-2, only for Leandro Trossard of Arsenal to seal Belgium's victory at the death.

Rudi Garcia's Red Devils -- who beat Wales 4-3 at home in June -- now know one win from their two games next month away to Kazakhstan and at home to Liechtenstein will clinch top spot.

Meanwhile, Wales must try to catch second-placed North Macedonia, who were held 1-1 at home by Kazakhstan on Monday with Enis Bardhi replying for the hosts after Dinmukhamed Karaman's opener.

Switzerland forced to wait

Switzerland could have qualified from Group B with the right combination of results, but will have to wait until next month after a 0-0 draw in Slovenia.

The Swiss are now only three points clear of Kosovo, who beat Sweden 1-0 in Gothenburg thanks to a solitary strike by Fisnik Asllani of Hoffenheim.

Sweden's campaign has proven to be a disaster as they sit bottom of the section with just one point despite having Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak starting together up front -- they have failed to even score in their last three matches.