Gustav Isaksen scored twice in two minutes as Denmark powered to a 4-0 win over North Macedonia in their 2026 World Cup European play-off semi-final in Copenhagen on Thursday to earn a place in Tuesday’s Path D decider against either Czech Republic or Ireland.
Mikkel Damsgaard and Christian Norgaard were also on target as Denmark pulled away in the second half having been held scoreless in the opening period, and they now head to the final seeking a third successive World Cup qualification.
North Macedonia never showed much ambition to get forward but were stubborn opponents in the first 45 minutes. Once behind though, the floodgates opened and the home side scored three goals in 10 minutes to make the tie safe.
Denmark went ahead four minutes into the second half as their pressure finally took its toll. Isaksen was denied by an excellent last-ditch tackle and as the ball fell loose in the box, Damsgaard fired into the empty net.
It was 2-0 on 58 minutes as Damsgaard turned provider when his excellent cross to the back post was steered into the net by Isaksen.
The tie was made safe a minute later when he scored his second goal. Victor Froholdt’s shot from the edge of the box was only parried by North Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and Isaksen turned in the rebound.
The fourth goal was far too easy as Christian Eriksen’s corner to the back post was going directly in but was helped over the line by teammate Norgaard.
Viktor Gyokeres scores his second of three against Ukraine. Pic: Alberto Saiz/AP
Viktor Gyokeres scores his second of three against Ukraine. Pic: Alberto Saiz/AP
Meanwhile, Sweden are 90 minutes from a place in the World Cup finals after striker Viktor Gyokeres scored a superb hat-trick to sweep aside Ukraine 3-1 on Thursday and set up a winner-takes-all playoff game against Poland in Stockholm on Tuesday.
The Swedes took an early lead when Benjamin Nygren flashed the ball across the box and Gyokeres was on hand to stab it into the net from close range in the sixth minute.
The Ukrainians found themselves two goals down six minutes into the second half as Nordfeldt launched a long ball for Gyokeres, and he latched onto it and cut inside before unleashing a quick-fire shot that took Ukraine keeper Anatoliy Trubin by surprise.
The game was effectively decided in the 71st minute when Gyokeres was again played in behind and Trubin felled him in the box to give away a penalty and earn a yellow card, with the 27-year-old striker dusting himself off to complete his hat-trick.
Ukraine grabbed a consolation goal through Matviy Ponomarenko in the 90th minute.
In the other playoff games, Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 and reach the playoff finals, with Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski netting second-half goals to set up a Path B decider away to Sweden on Tuesday. Kosovo twice came from behind to beat Slovakia 4-3 away in a thriller to ensure a decisive home clash against Turkey on Tuesday.
Earlier, Turkey moved within one game of ending their long World Cup absence as Ferdi Kadioglu's second-half goal secured a 1-0 win over Romania in their playoff semi-final on Thursday, following a moment of brilliance from Arda Guler.