Sports Mole singles out eight key matches not to be missed during the November international break.
The final international break of 2024 is here, and there is a lot that needs to be sorted out across the world of football.
In South America, Asia and Oceania, World Cup qualifying continues, and the fate of many nations could become clearer this month.
The first stage of the UEFA Nations League will come to a close ahead of its expanded, revamped format in the spring, while CONCACAF’s version also continues in North America.
Qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations will also come to its conclusion this month, with the 24 nations set to compete at next summer’s finals to be decided over the coming days.
Here, Sports Mole pinpoints eight matches from across the globe that you should keep an eye on over the next week.
Venezuela vs. Brazil (14 November, 9pm)
Brazil were victorious in both of their must-win qualifiers last month, easing the pressure on manager Dorival Junior, and calming the nerves they would have had about potentially missing out on the World Cup finals.
The Selecao have opened up a four-point gap to those outside the automatic qualifying positions, and another victory will move them further clear inside the top six ahead of their clash with Uruguay next week.
This will be a challenging away trip though against a Venezuela outfit seeking to qualify for their first ever World Cup, and a win for the hosts would likely see them rise into the automatic qualification places.
Greece vs. England (14 November, 7:45pm)
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England must win away in Greece on Thursday otherwise they will miss out on an automatic return to League A, and the chance to fall back on a playoff place should they fail in the initial stage of 2026 World Cup qualifying, which starts next year.
The Three Lions will still have a promotion playoff to fall back on if they can take at least a point from their two games this month, but a win will be the minimum requirement in Athens.
Greece have been excellent though, and their stunning win at Wembley last month has contributed to their 100% record so far in the section, and they know just a point will be enough to take them up.
San Marino vs. Gibraltar (15 November, 7:45pm)
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San Marino will win promotion to League C of the Nations League for the first time if they claim three points at home to Gibraltar on Friday night.
The minnows historic win over Liechtenstein in September has set this clash up perfectly, in a winner-takes-all affair that also could see Gibraltar return to League C at the first time of asking.
Liechtenstein are out of contention in this three-team section, so a draw here will give San Marino a second chance when they face the team they defeated at the start of the campaign next week, but they would need to do something they have never done before, win away from home.
Angola vs. Ghana (15 November, 7pm)
Ghana enter this international window facing the prospect of missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations finals for just the second time in its 18 previous iterations.
A woeful start means they are five points behind Sudan with just two games to play, so the odds are stacked heavily against them, but with Mohammed Kudus, Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo in their ranks, they have got the ability to earn back-to-back wins.
They would need results to go their way elsewhere though, and Angola themselves have proven difficult opponents, as they have won all four qualifiers so far.
Australia vs. Saudi Arabia (14 November, 9:10am)
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Both Australia and Saudi Arabia have underwhelmed in qualifying so far, so with Japan clear at the top of Group C, there is likely only going to be one automatic spot left, and defeat for either could be fatal here, despite only being midway through the current phase.
Roberto Mancini left his role as Saudi boss last month following a poor start and was replaced by Herve Renard, while Australia started with two dismal results against Bahrain and Indonesia, but taking four points from games against China and Japan last month suggests they are in better shape.
Bahrain are one to keep an eye on though, as they have taken points off both of these nations, and could spoil the party by moving above the two of them and into the automatic spot by the end of the week.
Qatar vs. Uzbekistan (14 November, 4:15pm)
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2022 World Cup Qatar hosts are in huge danger of missing out automatic qualification in the top two of this group to a nation growing rapidly in the Asian continent.
Uzbekistan have been flying under the radar for a while, almost reaching the finals held in Qatar, and being a penalty shoot-out victory away from the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, but they have proven their talent so far in qualifying, sitting six points ahead of Qatar and United Arab Emirates in Group A, which also includes Iran, who are likely to finish top.
Qatar have just one win from their opening four games, while Uzbekistan’s only dropped points so far came in a 0-0 draw with Iran, meaning they are still unbeaten in 10 World Cup qualifiers, after also breezing through the second stage earlier this year.
Jordan vs. Iraq (14 November, 4:15pm)
Of the three groups in AFC World Cup qualifying’s third stage, Group B is easily the most wide open, as one of Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait and Palestine will join runaway leaders South Korea at the finals in 2026.
Jordan and Iraq enter this window level on seven points, with Jordan just ahead on goal difference and in the second automatic qualifying position, and with home advantage here, they could move clear of the chasing pack.
Oman, Kuwait and Palestine have not made the best of starts either, so the two meetings between Jordan and Iraq could end up being a straight shootout to see who takes that other qualifying spot.
Vanuatu vs. New Zealand (15 November, 6:30am)
For the first time, OFC are guaranteed an automatic qualifying spot for the World Cup, and while New Zealand will be the resounding favourites to claim it, any slip up by them could hand the opportunity of a lifetime to one of the Pacific island nations to reach the finals.
Vanuatu are ranked 157th in the world, but won 4-1 in their opening game in this section against Samoa, making them big favourites to progress to the final four-team stage, and this encounter will provide them with a good indicator as to whether they can compete with the All Whites, who will have Premier League Player of the Month Chris Wood up front.
