England poised for 8 out of 8

>>> Big-league club soccer takes a holiday until late next week as the spotlight shifts to international action and the final two rounds of UEFA qualifiers for next year's World Cup, but there are plenty of grand opportunities to score big with a TAB soccer bet including a R5.6-million carryover Soccer 13 tomorrow that is likely to offer an R8-million pot for all-13-correct bets.

- By Mark Gleeson

Europe will cough up a long list of countries to go to the 2026 World Cup over the next seven days as the group phase of their qualifiers comes to a close.

There will be 16 European countries at the expanded 48-team finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year, but before the start of this week's final two rounds of matches only England had confirmed their berth.

They have won Group K with two games to spare and will be looking to finish with a 100% record. They have six out of six and should make it seven at home to Serbia tomorrow night and then eight away at Albania on Sunday.

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal need only go through the motions to book their respective places, but some of the other groups are much more keenly contested.