Article by Romeo Ene – Published Monday, October 13, 2025, 10:46 / Updated Monday, October 13, 2025 10:47
Romania defeated Austria on Sundayscore 1-0, in stage 6 of the World Championship preliminaries of 2026. The only goal of the match was scored by Virgil Ghiță (27 years), at the last phase (90+5 '). Although the “tricolors” still have a chance in the first place, the realistic objective is a ranking in the second position, which would ensure the presence at the dam and opponents, at least on paper, easier.
Romania is qualified at the dam anyway, taking into account the course of the League of Nations, but if it will finish in 3rd place, it will normally have stronger adveractions.
Possible adversaries of Romania in the dam for the World Championship
Analysts believe that Romania will be in the 3rd ballot box at the draw.
If he gets 6 points with Bosnia and San Marino, in the last two matches, and Bosnia will not defeat Austria, Romania will finish in 2nd place and could have easier opponents in drawing lots.
How could the urns look like:
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Urn 1: Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, Wales
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Urna 2: Poland, Scotland, Czech Republic, Hungary
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Urna 3: Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania
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Urna 4: Sweden, Northern Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova
The dam will be disputed in the semifinal – final system and there will be four different color. The nationals in the first two ballot boxes will dispute the semi -final on their own ground, and in the final the host will be drawn.
Semifinals:
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Urna 1 – urn 4
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Urna 2 – urn 3
Final:
If the situation remains in this way, the “tricolors” will meet in the semifinal one of Poland, Scotland, the Czech Republic. If we qualify, in the final we could go across Ukraine or Wales, in an optimistic scenario. Italy or Turkey could go out in a less optimistic variant.
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IF Romania reaches the 2nd ballot, Romania will play on its own semi-final soil, and the opponent will be chosen between Slovakia, Slovenia or Albania.
If Romania does not finish on the 2nd place, it has the presence at the dam due to the course of the League of Nations. It will be in the 4th ballot box, and in the semifinal will play with one of Italy, Ukraine, Turkey or Wales (national from the first ballot).
Calculations: Romania can qualify directly at the World Championship + the match with Bosnia, crucial
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Romania also has to play with Bosnia, on November 15th. Three days later he will face San Marino. Austria, the team from the first place, has to play with Cyprus and Bosnia.
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At this moment, the Austrians have 15 points, Bosnia has 13 points, Romania has 10. All 3 May have two matches to play.
Romania still has theoretical chances at the 1st place. However, any point made by Austria takes us out of calculation. In equality of score, the goal is the first criterion of separation, and the Austrians are much better, they have +16, while we have +5. Thus, Romania should pass Austria to get the first place in points. How is this happening? Everything here.
Photo gallery. Images with the unleashed joy of the “tricolors”: Mircea Lucescu, as it was seen before
The ranking in the Romanian group
