Uefa World Cup Qualifiers: Czech Republic strike early as Sweden, Poland, Kosovo and Turkey stay locked
uefa world cup qualifiers action is unfolding right now in three European playoff finals, with places at the 2026 World Cup on the line. At 2: 45 PM ET, kick-offs hit almost simultaneously in Pristina, Solna, and Prague as the winners chase tickets to the finals in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The early flashpoint: Czech Republic jumped in front of Denmark inside the opening minutes, while Sweden v Poland and Kosovo v Turkey remained scoreless in the opening passages.
Early breakthrough in Prague sets the pace in Uefa World Cup Qualifiers
The clearest early momentum came in Prague, where Czech Republic went ahead 1-0 against Denmark after winning a second corner in the third minute. Vladimir Coufal delivered, the clearance fell to Sulc at the edge of the box, and he struck a first-time finish into the top corner for what was described as a dream start for the hosts.
Denmark responded with a surge as Hojlund blazed forward and shot from a tight angle on the left, but Kovar made the low save. With that sequence, the Czech Republic v Denmark match quickly became the one drawing the most immediate attention for its tempo and end-to-end threat.
Sweden v Poland and Kosovo v Turkey: tight margins, no goals yet
In Solna, Sweden and Poland stayed 0-0 in the early stages, with one moment of danger arriving when Denmark had the ball in the box but Lewandowski could not get a clean strike after an awkward tackle from Starfelt, who was hurt in the process. The match tone was framed by the sense that Sweden are trying to rediscover their edge in front of a home crowd, with commentary pointing to a return to familiar ruggedness and structure under Potter.
In Pristina, Kosovo and Turkey also opened at 0-0, and the first chances were scrappy and tense. A poor pass from Turkey allowed Muslija to collect the ball in the final third, attempt some tricks and turns, then lose his footing as Turkey defended well. Turkey came close when Calhanoglu’s shot was blocked, followed by a second block on the follow-up; Turkey settled for a corner, and Kosovo dealt with the danger.
Kosovo’s stakes: a first World Cup finals place and a national rallying cry
The Kosovo-Turkey playoff carried a weight beyond the scoreboard. Kosovo became Fifa members in 2016, and a win in this final would secure the country’s first-ever World Cup finals place, capping a qualification campaign described as a rallying cry for national pride.
Samir Ujkani, speaking about the team’s earlier conditions, recalled training on a rutted pitch at the crumbling Kek stadium outside Pristina beneath the Obiliq power plants, and at other times making a three-hour round trip to Mitrovica for a single session. “We didn’t care, we did it all and nobody complained. And I’m so proud of what the team are achieving now, ” Ujkani said.
Context around Kosovo’s recent history was also underscored: public matches were banned by Serbian authorities in the 1990s after the breakup of Yugoslavia, followed by a brutal war at the end of that decade. In the years after Kosovo stood alone, sport has been portrayed as central to projecting a “fresh, serious, accomplished face to the world. ”
What’s next as the playoff finals tighten
With all three matches still in their early phases as of 2: 45 PM ET, the immediate question is whether Denmark can steady themselves after conceding early in Prague, and whether Sweden, Poland, Kosovo or Turkey can turn their first openings into a decisive goal. The winners of each of these games will book their spot at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico, keeping the pressure at maximum level for every moment that follows in the uefa world cup qualifiers playoff finals.
