Which teams should you keep an eye on for the WC qualifiers

As the road to the World Cup intensifies, teams across the globe will be looking to book their place at the tournament hosted in Canada, the USA and Mexico. Fans already started looking for the best World Cup tickets. Here's a look at five sides worth watching as the international break gets underway.

England to seal the deal?

Despite early skepticism surrounding his start to life as England coach, Thomas Tuchel has guided his side to a perfect start in Group K, winning all 5 matches without conceding a single goal. Although his side hasn't hit top gear yet, the former Chelsea and Bayern coach's blend of breakout talents like Djed Spence and Elliot Anderson, alongside trusted veterans Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford, has shaped the Three Lions into one of the most balanced sides in world football. If results elsewhere fall in their favour, a win over Latvia on October 14 could seal qualification for next summer's tournament, allowing Tuchel's side to shift their focus towards ending a 60-year wait for international silverware.

Norway on the frontfoot

Over the past two decades, Norway have struggled to leave a mark on the international stage, having last tasted World Cup football in 1998. It's been so long, in fact, that their last squad featured current manager Stale Solbakken and a young Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, just a year before his dramatic Champions League winner for Manchester United in 1999.

This time, though, there's cause for genuine belief. Even without captain Martin Odegaard, sidelined by a knee injury, Norway are armed with serious attacking firepower in the shape of Erling Haaland, backed up by the likes of Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa. As a result they've secured a 100% record from their opening five games, including an emphatic 11-1 win last time out against Moldova in which Haaland scored five. Beat Israel and hope Italy slip up, and Norway could finally break their 28-year World Cup exile.

Germany: Waking the sleeping giant

Germany are still very much licking their wounds from an underwhelming Euro 2024 and their recent form has been patchy at best. A combination of injuries to key players, the absence of a reliable central striker, and ongoing squad experimentation has led to hot and cold performances under boss Julian Nagelsmann. This inconsistency was on full display in September, as Julian Nagelsmann's side followed a lacklustre loss to Slovakia with a swift rebound against Northern Ireland. That being said, it's still early days in their campaign. With Karim Adeyemi rediscovering his form and Nick Woltemade making a scintillating start to life in the Premier League, there's reason for cautious optimism among German fans. Upcoming fixtures against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland offer a chance to build momentum and stake a claim at the top of the group.

Pressure mounting on Italy

After missing out on the World Cup in both 2018 and 2022, Italy are under mounting pressure to secure qualification this time around. Gennaro Gattuso's side stumbled in their opener against group leaders Norway but have since bounced back with three consecutive wins, including a frenetic nine-goal thriller against Israel. With games running out and the group runners-up facing the uncertainty of a playoff, the Azzurri know they must win their remaining fixtures to keep pace with Norway at the top.

Scotland hopes pinned on Scott

Scotland haven't reached a World Cup since 1998, but after qualifying for Euro 2020, the Tartan Army have every reason to believe this campaign could be different. Following a hard-fought goalless draw in Copenhagen and a comfortable 2-0 win over Belarus, Steve Clarke's side return to home soil with four points, level with Group C leaders Denmark. Upcoming clashes with Greece and Belarus will be pivotal, and much of the spotlight will fall on Scott McTominay. Fresh off a Serie A title and a Ballon d'Or nomination, the midfielder has become the heartbeat of Clarke's setup and Scotland's best hope of qualification.

As the October qualifiers get underway, each of these five teams stands at a different crossroads on their journey to the World Cup. The road to North America has a long way to go, but their fates could be heavily impacted by their performances and results over the next week.