Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes each scored a hat-trick as Portugal routed Armenia 9-1 in Porto on Sunday, securing their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With captain Cristiano Ronaldo suspended, Portugal fielded a reshaped front line but quickly took control in Porto on Sunday. Renato Veiga opened the scoring in the seventh minute, settling any early nerves as the hosts dominated possession.
Armenia equalized in the 18th minute with its first real chance, but Portugal responded swiftly. Goncalo Ramos restored the lead 10 minutes later, before Neves struck twice and Fernandes added another to send Roberto Martinez’s side into halftime 5-1 ahead.
Portugal continued to dictate the tempo after the break, pinning Armenia deep and exploiting gaps with sharp combination play around the box. Fernandes completed his hat-trick with two composed finishes, Neves claimed his third late on, and Francisco Conceicao capped the win with a stoppage-time strike.
Also in Group F, Ireland secured second place with a 3-2 victory away to Hungary, as Troy Parrott completed his hat-trick with a stoppage-time winner.
Norway reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after cruising past Italy 4-1 to complete a perfect Group I campaign with eight wins from eight, leaving Italy to face the playoffs. Israel beat Moldova 4-1.
In Group D, Ukraine booked a playoff berth with a 2-0 win over Iceland thanks to late goals from Oleksandr Zubkov and Oleksii Hutsuliak, while France came from behind to beat Azerbaijan 3-1 and secure top spot.
In Group K, England wrapped up a perfect campaign with a 2-0 victory over Albania, extending its run to eight qualifying matches without conceding a goal. Serbia came from behind to defeat Latvia 2-1, with second-half goals from Aleksandar Katai and Aleksandar Stankovic.
