Portugal extended their winning run to four group matches with a 2-1 victory over Norway on 4 October, sealing a quarter-final place and a top-two finish in Group 4. It was the third straight win with Ronaldo not on the pitch.
Kristoffer Ajer put Norway ahead on 36 minutes, but João Cancelo levelled almost immediately and Gonçalo Ramos tapped in the winner from close range after being teed up by João Félix. Portugal saw out the final minutes with ten men after Francisco Conceição was sent off late on.
Ronaldo had walked out on head coach Jorge Jesus’s squad on 30 September, after watching the previous match against Norway from the bench. He posted on Instagram that he had decided to leave the camp. Portugal then beat Denmark 4-2 on 1 October and Norway three days later without him.
On 9 October the Portuguese Football Federation opened disciplinary proceedings and provisionally suspended him, with its rulebook allowing bans of between one and six months for abandoning national team duty.
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In a public statement, Ronaldo said he accepted that leaving had been wrong.
“Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach’s word, as anyone who witnessed our conversations can testify, I should not have done it,” the 41-year-old said.
He added that “the consequence of my actions should be assessed and punished” by the federation.
Spain through, England chasing in Group 3
Spain also booked a quarter-final place. They beat the Czech Republic 3-1 at home on 3 October through Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Merino, before Merino scored twice to win 2-1 in Croatia three days later. Spain top Group 3 on 12 points, three clear of England with two matches left.
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England sit second on nine. They won 7-0 in Zagreb on 3 October, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scoring twice and Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers each adding one, before beating the Czech Republic 3-0 at home on 6 October.
France pull clear, Group 2 still open
France beat Belgium 4-1 at home on 5 October, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and a late Michael Olise brace turning Dodi Lukébakio’s opener on its head. France lead Italy by three points and Belgium by four at the top of Group 1, with Türkiye still pointless.
Group 2 is the only pool still to decide. The Netherlands and Greece are level on eight points, with Germany third on five after a 2-0 win over Serbia on 1 October through Tom Bischof and Florian Wirtz, and a goalless draw in Greece on 4 October. Serbia are also winless.
November decides the last pairings
Matchdays 5 and 6 run from 12 to 17 November. The eight quarter-finalists will be set once that window closes, with the two-legged knockout ties scheduled for March 2027.
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