The October 2025 international break is upon us, and here are the five focuses as Africans conclude World Cup qualifiers, while Europeans step up their campaign.
Top 5 Focus of the October 2025 international games
1. Africans conclude qualification
African countries finalize their fates in the World Cup qualifiers as the penultimate and final rounds of games will be played in this October 2025 international break, with hopefuls looking to join the train to North America next year.
Morocco and Tunisia have already secured their ticket for the global showpiece, while the likes of Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, and Cape Verde are well placed to seal their qualifications ahead of the resumption of hostilities.
While Ivory Coast and Gabon will take the battle in Group F down to the wire, both nations are expected to make it, either as group winners or one of the second-best-placed teams.
Early indications suggest only one will make the tournament in Group C, where Benin and South Africa are currently tied on 14 points, following the removal of three points and as many goals from the latter, due to fielding an ineligible player.
2. Nigerians to finally wake up from their dreams
The attempt to reach the next FIFA World Cup has already failed following a disastrous start to a qualifying campaign that keeps getting worse, but fans continue to hope as it mathematically remains a possibility.
However, with the final rounds of the qualifiers coming up in this October 2025 international break, the case will finally be put to bed, and a reality they have chosen to accept will ultimately come to pass.
The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C, behind Benin and South Africa, who are both on 14 points, while a best second-place slot is surely not going to anyone in the group given the amount of points already amassed in other groups.
For the Super Eagles to qualify, they’ll need both Benin and South Africa to each lose at least one of their games, while they also have to win their own two, which includes a meeting with Benin in Uyo.
3. European countries to determine favourites in WC qualifiers
European countries will be in action in continuation of the World Cup qualifiers, and with the third and fourth rounds of an 8-game qualifier coming up, teams will learn who the real favourites are in each group.
Nations like Spain, France, and Switzerland will look to establish their dominance, while Germany and Denmark have a lot of ground to make up for, after failing to start with a perfect record in the previous break.
Norway and England could both seal their tickets, Serbia and Croatia battle for supremacy in Group L, while Belgium will be looking to snatch advantage from North Macedonia in Group J, with Wales not ruled out in the race.
October 2025 international break is a decisive one for the likes of Sweden, Hungary, Ukraine, Serbia, and Israel, if they are to bring to reality their dreams of playing in the FIFA World Cup next year.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo targets history
During the previous international break, Cristiano Ronaldo equaled Carlos Ruiz’s all-time record for most FIFA World Cup qualifiers goals with his 39th during Portugal’s 3-2 win over Hungary in Budapest.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be looking to claim the record for himself in the October 2025 international games, when Roberto Martinez’s charge takes on the Republic of Ireland and Hungary, with both games happening in Portugal.
Ronaldo has quite impressive records against the two countries. He has scored four goals in the last two times Portugal has played host to Ireland, and has seven goals and two assists against Hungary.
5. South Americans explore international friendlies
With their FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament out of the way, South American countries will be in friendly actions this October 2025 international break, and have some exciting fixtures lined up.
Argentina will play Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Brazil have dates with South Korea and Japan, while Uruguay will be taking on Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan, with Colombia locking horns with Mexico and Canada in North America.
Some European countries will also be in friendly actions. England against Wales, Poland, and then Norway against New Zealand, while World Cup host, the USA, plays Ecuador and Australia.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
