London, 15 November 2025 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Croatia will be playing at the World Cup after coming from behind to beat the Faroe Islands 3-1 in Rijeka on Friday.

The islanders, whose own hopes of unlikely qualification are now over, took a surprise lead with a deflected strike from Grimsby's Geza David Turi.

Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol levelled and further goals from Petar Musa and Nikola Vlasic sealed the win and first place in Group L.

Montenegro beat Gibraltar 2-1 in the other match in the group while Czech Republic, who were not in action, will head to the play-offs.

The Netherlands are also set to qualify automatically after holding rivals Poland to a 1-1 draw in Warsaw.

Memphis Depay equalized just at the start of the second half after Jakub Kaminski had given the Poles the lead on the stroke of half-time.

The result means the Dutch – who lead Group G by three points from Poland with a goal difference 13 better – in all likelihood need only to go through the motions against Lithuania on Monday. Poland will take the play-off place.

Germany and Slovakia will face a winner-takes-all shootout for a place in the World Cup after both were triumphant in their qualifiers.

Germany lead the group but only on goal difference from Slovakia ahead of the two sides' meeting in Leipzig on Monday.

A victory for Slovakia would see them go through to the tournament in North America, with Germany being forced to settle for a play-off place.

Substitute David Bobcek struck Slovakia's winner in stoppage-time in Kosice, ending Northern Ireland's hope of finishing second in the group.

Michael O'Neill's side, who later had Dan Ballard sent off, will still get another chance via the play-off spot secured courtesy of their Nations League performance.

Elsewhere Malta beat Finland 1-0.

Photo: epa