Five things we learnt from October’s international break

The October international break saw numerous sides book a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with England being the first to do so in Europe. FromTheSpot takes a closer look at five key takeaways from the international fixtures, with focused analysis on different regions of the world.

Thomas Tuchel is facing a selection dilemma

England’s form under Tuchel has been outstanding. The latest 5-0 demolition of Latvia saw them become the first European nation to book a place at next summer’s World Cup.

The Three Lions have had a faultless qualifying campaign under the German manager and are yet to concede in an official game this year. However, when it comes to squad selection, another successful camp has forced the coach into a difficult squad conundrum.

The most tricky choice comes in midfield, where two places are up for grabs next to the untouchable Declan Rice. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers started both games during the October international break and have made a strong case for their inclusion next summer. The latter has already played 460 minutes under Tuchel after making his debut last year.

Nevertheless, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, both Ballon d’Or nominees, will want to reclaim their lineup positions should they avoid injuries in the upcoming months. 2024 PFA Player of the Year Phil Foden must also not be written off after his recent form at Manchester City.

Other areas of the pitch have also faced immense competition. Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Marcus Rashford are all eyeing a left-wing position. With Gordon and Eze both scoring against Latvia, Tuchel is far away from a resolution in this decision.

The right-back position also has a question mark to it, while three worthy centre-backs in the faces of John Stones, Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa are competing for two spots. As a result, the November international break will by no means be a formality.

Ronaldo and Messi just keep turning up

The October international break saw the two greatest players of our generation break one more record each.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the all-time leading goal-scorer in World Cup qualifying with 41 goals, surpassing Guatemala player Carlos Ruiz.

After having his penalty saved by Caoimhín Kelleher in a 1-0 victory over Ireland, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner redeemed himself against Hungary with a first-half brace, earning his side a 2-2 draw.

The 40-year-old continues to increase the all-time international goal record, now sitting at 143 goals and showing no signs of stopping. His side will look to confirm qualification in November and enter the World Cup as one of the favourites.

Lionel Messi also made headlines during the international break as he broke Neymar’s record for most assists in international football and now sits at a total of 60. His two assists during the 6-0 thrashing of Puerto Rico have taken the Inter Miami forward to 398 career assists.

While both players currently play away from the European spotlight, they will undoubtedly go to North America to make an impact and this international break reminded us of it.

Sweden are in urgent need of a rebuild

Sweden’s qualifying campaign has been a total disaster, and the October international break continued that trend.

Two home defeats to Kosovo and Switzerland became the nail in the coffin for manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was dismissed on Tuesday. Despite managing the national team through a promising Nations League performance in 2024, Tomasson failed to turn around a poor start to the qualifying campaign.

The Scandinavian side currently sit bottom of Group C with only one point and three consecutive losses. Sweden will still get a chance to qualify through the March play-offs courtesy of their Nations League performance, though they will have a new coach by then.

Graham Potter has been one of the frontrunners to take up the vacant spot, with ex-Villa defender Olof Mellberg also linked with the job.

The successful candidate will inherit a team that, only a few years ago, competed in a World Cup quarter-final and is now in dire need of a rebuild.

South Africa are back and ready to bring a party to the World Cup

South Africa are back in the spotlight for the first time in 16 years. Bafana Bafana have left behind World Cup regulars Nigeria and qualifying sensation Benin, and will play at the World Cup for the first time since their home tournament in 2010.

However, South Africa’s route to the tournament was far from simple. An administrative error nearly derailed an entire qualifying campaign as Hugo Broos’ side were deducted three points after fielding ineligible Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho earlier in the campaign.

A breach of the yellow card suspension rule meant South Africa’s qualification was no longer in their hands; however, the latest international break demonstrated the side’s resilience. Four points in two games, including a 3-0 victory over Rwanda, were enough to qualify as Nigeria ran riot against Benin in the parallel fixture. South Africa topped Group C with 18 points and qualified on merit for the first time since 2002: a remarkable achievement against all odds.

South Africa’s successes have been a standout in this specific international break, and they can easily become a memorable underdog nation next summer.

This is the last October international break as we know it

The October international break will change from next year onwards. FIFA’s reform back in 2023 meant that the September and October international breaks will be merged into a single long autumn window.

From 2026, teams will be playing up to four international matches across an extended 16-day window, meaning there will be less disruption to club football in the early stages of the season.

The change to the calendar means the October international break will never be the same, making this one a little more special.