World Cup Qualifiers & National Teams
- Germany vs Northern Ireland (World Cup qualifier)
Germany secured a narrow 1-0 win against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on 13 October. The only goal came from Nick Woltemade in the 31st minute, from a corner kick that deflected into the net.
Despite Northern Ireland putting pressure late with chances, Germany held on. The win keeps Germany top of Group A with 9 points, ahead of Slovakia on goal difference, while Northern Ireland are third with 6 points. - Cape Verde Qualifies for 2026 FIFA World Cup
In one of the feel-good stories of the month, Cape Verde clinched their first ever World Cup ticket by beating Eswatini 3-0 in their final group match.- Goals came from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and Stopira (the veteran who came off the bench) in the second half.
- Cape Verde finished top of their group, 4 points ahead of Cameroon, and thus qualify directly.
- Their population is small (~600,000), making them the second smallest nation ever by population to reach a World Cup (after Iceland).
- Their qualification also spotlighted a controversy earlier in the qualifiers, when a late goal vs Libya was disallowed for offside — without VAR in those matches — but they overcame that.
- San Marino’s Bizarre Scenario in UEFA Qualifiers
San Marino, historically one of the lowest-ranked national sides, have been losing all matches in their qualifying campaign. But a quirk in UEFA’s system gives them an almost surreal possibility: losing a match intentionally could, under very specific conditions, improve their chances of reaching the World Cup via play-offs.
Because they won their UEFA Nations League group in the prior cycle, they are eligible for a play-off place if they don’t already qualify directly. And if Romania finish second, San Marino could benefit from “best runner-up” dynamics. The math is twisted, but their odds are small but nonzero. - Millie Bright Retires from International Football
Millie Bright, the former England Women’s captain and centre-back, has announced her retirement from international duty.- She earned 88 caps and scored 6 goals for England between 2016 and 2025.
- Bright was part of the 2022 European Championship winning squad and captained England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final when Leah Williamson was unavailable.
- She cites recurring knee issues and a desire to step away when she felt she could no longer commit fully.
- International Performances from Club Stars
At the international break, Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both scored for the Netherlands in a 4-0 win over Finland, helping keep the Dutch side atop their group.
Other reminders: many club stars had national team duties, affecting their availability going into league play. - UEFA / FIFA Consider Calendar Changes
There is growing talk about merging international breaks to reduce fixture congestion. Under consideration is merging the September and October windows into a longer window, allowing national teams to play 4 matches instead of 2.
This would cut the number of international breaks in a season, easing scheduling burdens on clubs and players. - ANT Nations Cup (Amateur Level Tournament)
A lesser-publicized but noteworthy event: the Amateur National Teams Nations Cup 2025 was held in Austria from 6–8 October.- It was the first time in ~45 years that such a tournament was staged.
- Five amateur national teams participated; Austria (as host) became champions, edging out Slovenia on goal difference.
- Austria’s Ben Leitensdorfer was named player of the tournament (3 goals in 2 matches).
- 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The U-20 World Cup is underway (27 September – 19 October) in Chile with 24 teams.- So far, the tournament has produced 143 goals in 48 matches.
- Interesting note: Uruguay, the 2023 champions, failed to qualify this time.
- UAE to Host Afghan Women’s Refugee Team
From 23–29 October, UAE will host a FIFA Unites: Women’s Series, where the Afghan Women’s Refugee Team will participate alongside UAE, Chad, Libya.
This marks a symbolic and important event in giving sporting opportunities to refugee women in difficult circumstances. - Other International Context
- Because of geopolitical / conflict tensions, Israel’s national team has come under scrutiny. A ceasefire deal in Gaza has eased some pressure, allowing their World Cup qualification campaign to continue with somewhat less external stress. Le Monde.fr
- Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, stated he is keeping an “open mind” about shifting major tournaments (World Cup, Club World Cup) away from summer months owing to climate and logistical concerns.
🏴 English / EPL & UK Football News (October 2025)
While October is relatively quiet for the Premier League (due to international breaks), there are still significant developments:
- Premier League Schedule & Break
The EPL suspended matches between 6 and 17 October because of the October international window. No Premier League games were played in that span.
Also, Matchweeks 7, 8, and 9 had fixture adjustments to accommodate live TV coverage and schedule constraints. - Liverpool vs Manchester United Preview
As domestic football resumes, a big fixture is Liverpool hosting Manchester United at Anfield.- Both clubs had players away on international duty, so team fitness, fatigue, and selection will be key.
- For United, Noussair Mazraoui remains unavailable (he joined Morocco duty but also was injured), and Lisandro Martinez is still recovering from a long-term knee injury.
- “Next Generation 2025” – Young EPL Talent Spotlight
The Guardian released its list of 20 best young prospects at Premier League clubs (born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009).
These first-year scholars are being tracked as potential stars of the future, and many academies are focusing investment on them. - Tottenham’s Financial Move
Tottenham Hotspur’s majority owners, ENIC, confirmed a £100 million equity injection into the club.
They also dismissed takeover rumors, stating the club is not for sale. The funds will support operations and the squad without increasing debt. - Arsenal’s Mosquera & International Allegiance Talk
Arsenal young defender Cristhian Mosquera, currently with Spain’s U21s, is reportedly being courted by Colombia to switch allegiance.- He has not yet made a senior appearance for Spain, so a switch is feasible.
- The Colombian federation is pushing for him, but Mosquera has stayed noncommittal, saying his priority is his development at Arsenal.
- English Football News – October 10 Highlights
On 10 October, several domestic news items made headlines:- Thomas Tuchel criticized England fans for being too quiet during a friendly vs Wales.
- Harry Maguire was reported to be close to extending his stay at Manchester United.
- Michael Olise’s teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta drew interest from big English clubs after his performances.
- Referee Andy Taylor revealed he keeps his family away from live EPL matches due to verbal abuse he and officials sometimes face.
- Fixture Confirmations & Broadcasters
The Premier League published fixture amendments early, confirming no matches from 6–17 October. Premier League
Kickoff times in October are largely at 15:00 BST, unless specified otherwise for television selection.
