Day: October 4, 2025

A football team’s quest to qualify for a major international tournament can take them across the globe, in all sorts of conditions. The process tests a national team’s ability to adapt to diverse playing environments, travel extensively and manage player fatigue. It’s a journey that can be as dramatic as the final match, with moments of glory and heartache along the way.

FIFA divides the world into six continental zones, or confederations: AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONMEBOL (North and Central America and the Caribbean), UEFA (Europe), OFC (Oceania) and South America (CONMEBOL). Each zone has its own qualification structure that ensures balanced competition. The best teams from each zone will receive berths in the World Cup, while the second-ranked teams will advance to intercontinental play-offs.

The 2026 qualification cycle started in March and will conclude with the group winners qualifying directly for the World Cup, while the 12 runners-up will compete in a two-round play-off against each other. This process highlights the uphill struggle that Oceania’s teams, in particular, face in their quest to reach the World Cup, given its geographic size and disparity in footballing standards.

The final spots in the 2026 World Cup are whittled down to just one per region, with three of the four top-ranked nations in CONCACAF securing their places automatically as hosts. Paraguay have an outside chance of crashing into the top six by winning their remaining home games against Ecuador and Bolivia, then taking a point from their trip to Colombia.

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Cam Schlittler got a big vote of confidence from David Ortiz this week… when the Yankees legend shoveled the “ace” label on the rookie right-hander after his do-or-die win against Boston.

Kourtney Hartenstein is hanging up the glittery two-piece ‘fits for good… telling TMZ Sports her main focus is more time with her family.

Merab Dvalishvili isn’t stopping anytime soon… the UFC bantamweight champ tells TMZ Sports he plans on fighting well past the point fighters normally lay down their glaives.

The Masters leaderboard

There’s a tense battle for the green jacket at Augusta with just 53 players left in the field after round two. Justin Rose retained his top spot with a 1-under 71 on Friday at Augusta National in Georgia, while two-time major winner Bryson DeChambeau remains right on his heels after posting a 4-under 68.

Rory McIlroy is also on the course for his first green jacket after claiming the lead with a spectacular second shot at the par-four fourth hole. The Northern Irishman blasts his drive over the corner of the green and plays a superb wedge from 87 yards which spins off the back bank down towards the cup before he holes the putt to move to 12 under.

That was an exhilarating start to the final round at The Masters and there will be plenty of drama this afternoon. 2021 champion Hideki Matsuyama and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood both got off to a fast start with birdies at the opening two holes, while Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm are also within touching distance.

First established in 1934 by amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, The Masters tournament is the first of four annual major championships. The tournament is unique in that it invites only winners of the most prestigious amateur titles and gives them the opportunity to use their children as caddies. It is also the only major in which the winning player keeps their green jacket for a year before returning it to the club.