September International Break: The Biggest Shocks Recapped

September International Break: The Biggest Shocks Recapped

Is international football always predictable? Not quite. While favourites often dominate, September’s international break threw up some remarkable surprises across the globe. Here are five of the biggest shock results from the latest round of fixtures.

Slovakia 2-0 Germany

Slovakia produced one of the standout results of the break, stunning Germany in their Group A opener to blow qualification wide open.

Goals from David Hancko and David Strelec sealed an impressive 2-0 victory over the four-time world champions. Despite enjoying 70% possession, Germany were unable to carve open Slovakia’s resilient defence or find a way past their stubborn hosts.

Although Germany recovered with a win over Northern Ireland in their following match, it is Slovakia who sit top of the group after edging Luxembourg with a late goal.

A notable statistic from the encounter: this was Germany’s first-ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifying campaign.

Kosovo 2-0 Sweden

Sweden’s hopes of reaching the next World Cup were dealt a significant blow following a poor start in Group B. After twice surrendering a lead to draw with Slovenia, the Swedes were undone 2-0 in Kosovo in their second outing.

The visitors looked disjointed and were punished by a spirited Kosovan performance. Key forward Alexander Isak was limited to substitute appearances across both games, having not featured at club level due to a transfer saga. The striker eventually secured a British record move to Liverpool on deadline day, but his lack of match sharpness could prove damaging to Sweden’s qualification prospects.

Chad 1-1 Ghana

CAF Group I delivered a huge upset when Chad held Ghana to a 1-1 draw, tearing up the form book in the process.

Chad entered the match on the back of six successive defeats, having scored only twice across that sequence. Against the group leaders, few expected them to mount much resistance. However, an 89th-minute equaliser from Célestin Ecua stunned the unbeaten Ghanaians and secured Chad their first point of the qualification campaign.

For Ghana, it was a frustrating result that disrupted their momentum, while for Chad it represented a landmark achievement and a much-needed morale boost.

Armenia 2-1 Ireland

The Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 defeat in Armenia ranks among the nation’s most embarrassing results. Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side were second-best throughout against a team placed 105th in FIFA’s world rankings — 45 spots below The Boys in Green.

The result leaves Ireland bottom of the group after two games and facing a daunting climb to reach their first World Cup since 2002. With two fixtures still to come against group leaders Portugal, qualification looks increasingly unlikely.

After beginning 2025 unbeaten, this setback represented a major low point. For Irish supporters, the manner of the loss was especially disheartening, sparking concerns that another rebuild could be looming on the horizon.

Bolivia 1-0 Brazil

South American football has long recognised the difficulty of visiting Bolivia, with the El Alto Municipal Stadium sitting at an altitude of 4,088 metres above sea level. Few nations escape unscathed, and Brazil became the latest to falter.

Miguel Terceros scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot, earning Bolivia a famous 1-0 win. Brazil had already qualified for the 2026 World Cup and fielded a rotated side, but the defeat still came as a surprise.

For Bolivia, it was a priceless result. The victory kept their qualification dreams alive, lifting them above Venezuela and into position for the inter-confederation play-offs. A first World Cup appearance since 1994 remains within reach, providing renewed hope for their supporters.

Conclusion

The September international break served as a reminder that no side can afford to take qualification lightly. Slovakia humbled Germany, Kosovo unsettled Sweden, Chad shocked Ghana, Armenia embarrassed Ireland, and Bolivia toppled Brazil at altitude.

Each of these unexpected outcomes reshaped their respective qualification groups, proving once more that in football, nothing can ever be guaranteed.