Night of class: titans shine as their sides stomp rivals on road to World Cup

This was not a night to mess with favourites in the World Cup qualifications.

At least, not if those favourites were Portugal, England and Norway. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland, they recorded massive victories, including brutal ones of England and Norway.

Ronaldo netted from the spot in a dramatic 3- 2 away win at Budapest against Dominik Szoboszlai's Hungary. The hosts conceded late from Joao Cancelo to lose all three points despite being 1-0 up and having been 2-2 for a minute thanks to Varga's brace. Portugal's star-studded side recorded a victory that seals their top spot on the table, as the 40-year-old Cristiano seems eager to break new records and reach new milestones.

Harry Kane's Three Lions ran riot in Belgrade against Serbia, celebrating a ruthless 5-0 victory after Kane broke the deadlock midway through the first half. His opener - a header following the corner from the right - was followed by a magnificent Noni Madueke's goal just two minutes later. After that, there was no dilemma about the eventual winner, but no one probably expected Thomas Tuchel's side to score three more goals without conceding a single one.

If that was a serious stomping, what can one say about Norway's 11-1 dismantling of poor Moldova? Erling Haaland found the back of the net 5 (FIVE) times, while Martin Odegaard added one in this historic humiliation.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Tuesday

Armenia - Republic of Ireland 2-1 (1-0)

/Spertsyan 45+1 pen, Ranos 51 - Ferguson 57/

Azerbaijan - Ukraine 1-1 (0-0)

/Mahmudov 72 pen - Sudakov 51/

Albania - Latvia 1-0 (1-0)

/Asllani 25 pen/

B&H - Austria 1-2 (0-0)

/Dzeko 50 - Sabitzer 49, Laimer 65/

Cyprus - Romania 2-2 (1-2)

/Loizou 29, Charalampous 76 - Dragus 2,18/

France - Iceland 2-2 (1-1)

/Mbappe 45 pen, Barcola 62 - Gudjohnsen 21, 88/

Hungary - Portugal 2-3 (1-1)

/Varga 21, 84 - Silva 36, Ronaldo 58 pen, Cancelo 86/

Norway - Moldova 11-1 (5-0)

/Myhre 6, Haaland 11, 36, 43, 52, 83, Odegaard 45+1, Aasgaard 67, 76, 79 pen, 90+1 - Ostigard 74 og/

Serbia - England 0-5 (0-2)

/Kane 33, Madueke 35, Konsa 52, Guehi 75, Rashford 90 pen/