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Football: Poland seal World Cup playoff spot after 1-1 draw with Netherlands

14.11.2025 23:15
Poland's national football team drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in its penultimate 2026 World Cup qualifier in Warsaw on Friday, securing a place in the playoffs for next year's tournament in North America.
Winger Jakub Kamiński (centre) scores for Poland against the Netherlands in Warsaw on Friday night.
Winger Jakub Kamiński (centre) scores for Poland against the Netherlands in Warsaw on Friday night.Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak

Winger Jakub Kamiński put Poland ahead in the 43rd minute on an assist from captain Robert Lewandowski, but Memphis Depay equalized for the Netherlands from a rebound two minutes after halftime.

A crowd of more than 56,000 watched the game at the Polish capital's National Stadium, broadcaster TVP Sport reported.

After seven rounds of matches, Poland sit second in Group G with 14 points, three behind the Netherlands, who are all but assured of qualifying directly.

Finland, who lost 0-1 to Malta at home on Friday, remain third on 10 points and are now out of contention.

Poland face Malta in Ta’ Qali on Monday in their final qualifier.

Poland still have a mathematical chance of winning the group, but it would require an overwhelming victory over Malta and a heavy Dutch loss to Lithuania in Amsterdam.

Poland are ranked 33rd worldwide by football's global governing body FIFA, while the Netherlands are No. 6 and Malta hold the No. 166 spot.

The group winner qualifies directly for the World Cup, while the runner-up advances to the two-stage playoffs, scheduled for March.

The playoff draw will be held in Zurich next Friday.

The World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, featuring 48 teams—16 more than in Qatar in 2022.

Poland reached the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before being eliminated by eventual runners-up France.

(gs)

Source: TVP Sport, IAR, PAP