FIFA World Cup 2026 play-offs: Gyokeres hat-trick helps Sweden beat Ukraine; Turkey borders Romania

Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick to send Sweden past Ukraine 3-1 in the 2026 World Cup play-off match, despite not having scored for his country since 2024.

Until Thursday, Gyokeres were winless and Sweden winless in a miserable qualifying group campaign.

The game was played in Spain because Ukraine has not hosted any international matches since the 2022 Russian invasion.

Sweden will face Poland after 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski scored a crucial header in a 2-1 win over Albania, keeping alive the Barcelona striker’s bid to reach a third World Cup.

Albania took the lead just before half time through Arber Hoxha after a defensive blunder by Poland. Lewandowski’s header from a corner got his team back into the match before Piotr Zielinski’s goal put Poland ahead.

Kosovo is one match away from its first-ever World Cup after twice recovering from a goal to upset Slovakia 4-3. That means a play-off with Turkey for a World Cup spot.

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In an early match, Turkey defeated Romania 1-0 and will have to play Slovakia or Kosovo for a place in the first World Cup since finishing third in 2002.

Turkey took the lead shortly after halftime when Ferdi Kadioglu was set up in front of goal with a long, precise pass from Arda Guler, a 21-year-old Real Madrid winger who could become one of the World Cup’s younger stars.

Vincenzo Montella’s Turkish team reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championship.

Romania’s elimination means that 80-year-old Mircea Lucescu will not get the chance to coach at the World Cup for the first time. Lucescu captained Romania at the 1970 World Cup. He previously coached Turkey.

In other results, Gustav Isaksen scored twice in two minutes in Denmark’s 4–0 win over North Macedonia.

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Meanwhile, both the Czech Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina won on penalties against Ireland and Wales respectively. Lihat juga ad6SJH. Ireland took a 2-0 lead in the first half but the Czechs soon pulled one back with a penalty and then equalized five minutes from time before goalkeeper Matej Kovar saved two penalties in the shootout to set up a decisive match against Denmark.

At the other end, Wales winger Daniel James opened the scoring for his side in the 51st minute before veteran striker Edin Dzeko scored a late equalizer. Things looked good for Wales in the ensuing shootout as goalkeeper Karl Darlow saved Ermedin Demirovic’s first penalty, but Brennan Johnson fired his effort over the crossbar and Nico Williams saw his penalty saved by Nikola Vasilj.

It was then left to Salzburg’s Kerim Alajbegovic to secure victory for the visitor, who are now unbeaten in five games against Wales.

Bosnia will face Italy for a place in the tournament to be played in the summer.

Published on March 27, 2026