World Cup qualifying latest, WSL updates and more – matchday live

8.56am GMT Thomas Tuchel has said he would rather England lose their final World Cup qualifier to Albania than any of his players risk picking up a red card that would rule them out of the start of next summer’s tournament. The head coach has taken note of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo possibly facing a two-game ban at the World Cup after his dismissal against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday and will remind his side about the importance of discipline at the Air Albania Arena on Sunday night. Tuchel does not want any needless slips from England, who have already won their qualifying group, and will even tell his players to think twice before fouling an opponent who is through on goal. “It is important,” the German said. “I’m aware of it and we will talk about it. No red cards please. We are through and we are in a position with last man then the player holds the shirt he gets the red card. If there’s a doubt then it would be smarter not to do it.” Related: Thomas Tuchel would prefer England defeat to red card in Albania Updated at 8.56am GMT 8.48am GMT WSL: Man City 3-0 Man Utd Manchester City are four points clear at the top of the WSL after a blistering first-half performance in the derby. Sophie Downey reports. Related: Manchester City cruise past United in derby to surge four points clear in WSL 8.45am GMT For Harry Kane, it is a numbers game and they keep on coming. The England captain has 23 goals in 17 appearances for Bayern Munich this season, while for his country it is three in four. If he scores against Albania here on Sunday, he would equal Pelé’s record in international football. Kane has 76 goals from 111 caps. The Brazil legend finished with 77 from 92. One more detail: Kane has failed to score in only six matches for club and country this season. Related: Harry Kane closes on Pelé’s record but captain always puts England first 8.41am GMT The state of play in Group K England have qualified, Albania have clinched a playoff place. Next! 8.40am GMT The state of play in Group I Norway will qualify for their fourth World Cup, and their first since Before Haaland (aka 1998), unless they lose by nine goals in Italy. No, exactly. Italy have also secured a playoff place. 8.39am GMT The state of play in Group F Portugal need to win at home to Armenia to be certain of automatic qualification. A draw will be sufficient unless Hungary beat the Republic of Ireland by four goals. Hungary v Ireland is almost certainly a shootout for a playoff place; Hungary have the draw and home advantage. 8.34am GMT The state of play in Group D France have already qualified, as expected, with Ukraine and Iceland – who meet in Warsaw this afternoon – chasing a playoff place. They’re level of points but Iceland effectively have the draw due to their superior goal difference. 8.13am GMT The runners and riders for the 2026 World Cup Thirty places have been filled, 18 remain. Related: World Cup 2026: which countries have qualified and how did they do it? 8.12am GMT Scotland, then. They went into last night’s game in Greece knowing* they needed at least a draw to stay in contention for automatic qualification. They lose a thrilling gmae 3-2 – but somehow Belarus held Denmark to a 2-2 draw in Copenhagen. The upshot is that – gulp - if Scotland beat Denmark at Hampden on Tuesday night, they will – GULP! – qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1998. Related: Scotland lose in Greece but Denmark stumble takes World Cup qualification to decider 8.02am GMT Preamble Oh, hi! You’re up early. And why wouldn’t you be on a big day for, among others, the Republic of Ireland and lovers of perfection. Ireland will secure a World Cup qualification playoff place if they beat Hungary in Budapest. And England, who play in Albania, are aiming to complete a perfect qualification campaign: eight games, eight wins, no goals conceded. Norway and Portugal should also clinch a place in next summer’s finals, while Ukraine face Iceland in what is effectively a playoff to reach the playoffs. We’ll have build-up to those matches, plus reaction to last night’s action in Group C. Scotland took a break from doing things the hard way and instead did it the weird way: despite a madcap 3-2 defeat in Greece, their hopes of automatic qualifiction remain alive after Belarus drew 2-2 against Denmark in Copenhagen. Last and emphatically not least, there are five games in the Women’s Super League, including the small matter of Tottenham v Arsenal. Here’s a full list of today’s games in Uefa World Cup qualification and the WSL. Group F (2pm) Hungary v Republic of Ireland Portugal v Armenia Group K (5pm) Albania v England Serbia v Latvia Group D (5pm) Azerbaijan v France Ukraine v Iceland Group I (7.45pm) Israel v Moldova Italy v Norway WSL (all midday unless stated) Aston Villa v London City Lionesses Brighton v Leicester Liverpool v Chelsea West Ham v Everton Tottenham v Arsenal (2.30pm) Post your thoughts BTL or get in touch at matchday.live@theguardian.com Updated at 8.10am GMT