With the World Cup starting to get closer and countries racing to reach the world’s biggest stage, international breaks have never been too far away. The final men’s FIFA window of 2025 runs through 10–18 November and is dedicated primarily to the World Cup Qualifiers. This will be the National teams’ final opportunity to qualify for the World Cup directly, whilst also integrating young players, and fine-tuning depth ahead of a busy 2026 calendar. Highlights include marquee matchups across Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Dates & Location

When: 10-18 November 2025

Where: Worldwide-hosted by national FA’s across multiple stadiums and neutral sites

Format & Structure

• Type: World Cup Qualifiers
• Common features: Larger benches, agreed substitution limits, and tactical rotation.
• Impact: All games directly effect the group standings.

Marquee Matchups

Marquee Matchups (World Cup Qualifiers – Nov 2025)

• England vs Serbia – Wembley Stadium, London – Fri Nov 14
• A group decider vibe at Wembley: England’s against Serbia. England have already clinched Group K so will be playing for pride whilst Serbia have it all to play for with a spot in the World Cup still alive via the Playoffs.
• France vs Ukraine – Parc des Princes, Paris – Fri Nov 14
• France’s elite transition game meets Ukraine’s compact mid-block and switch-of-play threat. The star studded France, featuring big names such as Mbappe and Olise, while Ukraine look to upset and tie up Group D
• Moldova vs Italy – Stadionul Zimbru, Chișinău – Fri Nov 14
• For Moldova, a chance to author the kind of upset that gets told for years; for Italy, proof of composure and standards when every opponent treats the fixture like a cup final.
• Poland vs Netherlands – NAtional Stadium Warsaw, Poland – Fri Nov 14
• Two proud football cultures crossing at a pressure point: Poland seeking a unifying home result; the Netherlands defending a tradition of big-game poise and expectation.
• Germany vs Slovakia – Red Bull Arena, Leipzig – Mon Nov 17
• Germany plays for reassurance as much as qualification momentum in front of their own; Slovakia arrive with the chance to tilt narratives and surprise the world by taking out Group B.

Squad News

Germany
Germany’s list blends core leaders with fresh and returning faces: Leroy Sané is back, while Kevin Schade, Malick Thiaw and goalkeeper Noah Atubolu are included, plus a first senior nod for Köln’s Said El Mala. They take on Luxembourg away and Slovakia at home as they look to finish the job and lock a World Cup berth.

England
Thomas Tuchel’s latest call-ups restore Jude Bellingham after his October omission, with English outlets framing it as a recalibration in midfield ahead of Serbia and Albania. The move signals a push to balance continuity with star quality as England look to convert control into qualification certainty.

France
Didier Deschamps recalled N’Golo Kanté for the double-header, adding experience to a squad that also had to pivot after Randal Kolo Muani withdrew with a jaw fracture. France host Ukraine then travel to Azerbaijan two results that would underline their grip on the group.

Netherlands
Ronald Koeman handed a first call-up to Feyenoord’s Luciano Valente and welcomed back key names, with reports noting De Ligt and others among the returnees. They sit in a strong position and can all but seal qualification against Poland before closing versus Lithuania.

Italy
Gennaro Gattuso named a 27-man squad for Moldova (away) and Norway (home), mixing regulars with form picks and a couple of notable returns. It’s a pragmatic list for a two-game sprint in which professionalism, not fireworks, should carry Italy over the line.

Serbia
Serbia’s November roster comes up against England and Latvia, with the federation publishing a call-up aimed at stabilising results after an unpredictable autumn. The brief is simple: secure points, steady the discourse, and keep a talented core focused on the immediate task.

The October Break

October’s window felt like a turning point across Europe. Spain stayed perfect with a composed 2–0 over Georgia in Elche, one of those business-like nights that tighten a grip on first place and calm any nerves about the run-in.

Portugal delivered peak drama twice. First came a stoppage-time 1-0 over Ireland in Lisbon, Ruben Neves rescuing the leaders after Caoimhin Kelleher saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, and Ireland had nearly nicked a point. Days later, Portugal were held 2–2 by Hungary despite a Ronaldo record, postponing an early qualification party and reminding everyone how thin the margins are.

The standout rout belonged to Norway: a 5-0 statement against Israel in Oslo, with Erling Haaland shaking off two early penalty misses to complete a hat-trick and keep Norway’s surge toward 2026 on track.

There were needle-movers everywhere else, too. Albania’s gritty 1-0 in Serbia jolted that group’s race, while the Netherlands cruised 4-0 past Finland, and Denmark turned a tight night into a 3-1 over Greece, results that steadied both favourites before the final window. Romania also banked a clean 1-0 over Austria to keep their line straight heading into November.

The October break had a major influence on countries’ World Cup dreams: favourites mostly didn’t disappoint, a couple of underdogs swung momentum with single-goal wins, and late moments more than tactics defined the headlines that will carry straight into November.

What’s At Stake

Germany’s path is straightforward: two qualifiers away to Luxembourg and home to Slovakia, with a win in the first game putting them within touching distance of a direct ticket before Leipzig’s finale.

Friday/Saturday’s headline cards across Europe line up as follows: Poland vs Netherlands in Group G is the classic six-pointer that can all but settle the automatic spot; Georgia vs Spain and Türkiye vs Bulgaria shape Group E’s top and traffic behind it; Cyprus vs Austria and Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Romania have direct implications in Group H; and Kazakhstan vs Belgium plus Liechtenstein vs Wales anchor Group J’s pecking order. These are all listed on UEFA’s official fixtures page for Matchday 9–10 (Nov 13–18).

Two more fixtures carry real jeopardy for big names: Moldova vs Italy (Group I) is the kind of awkward away night where a favorite must be clinical, and Greece vs Scotland, alongside Denmark vs Belarus (Group C) compress the margin for error at the top and for the playoff chasers. Add in Slovakia vs Northern Ireland (Group A) and you’ve got a parallel race that directly affects Germany’s cushion.

It’s set to be straight chaos, a week of action-packed international football that is bound to make or break countries’ World Cup chances.