With only the UEFA and intercontinental playoffs left, and the draw approaching on Friday, the World Cup is around the corner

Shades of 2023 with New Zealand, South Africa and France all on one side of the draw and England on the other. Make no mistake, this is a phenomenal draw for England. If they are to get to the final, they will avoid the Springboks right up until then, and should they top pool F then they will avoid meeting another pool winner until the semi-finals.

Reigning World Cup champions Argentina are in the tournament and the other five automatic qualifying spots have been filled with one matchday to spare in CONMEBOL.

Norway is one of the teams that have pretty much clinched a spot in the World Cup, thanks to carrying a 17-goal advantage over the Italians. It has helped the Scandinavian nation qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1998, finishing first in the group.

It would be five decades before Haiti’s men’s national team would feel that kind of joy again. Haiti’s women’s team made it to the World Cup in 2023, but that '74 trip was the last time the men qualified. Until last month.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti held its breath for nearly two hours as its troubles seemed to fade with the promise of its first World Cup qualification since 1974.

England have been drawn in Pool F alongside Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.

Beauchamp stole the ball while applying pressure on the perimeter, knocking it away from the ballhandler. Then, hurtling toward his bench, he saved it to a U.S. teammate in mid-air. Later in the third period, in a nasty spin move, Beauchamp showed off a little handle and finished at the rim.

The BBC's entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson needed surgery after a mishap ahead of Scotland's World Cup qualifying game.