by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE international calendar swings back into life next week, with Africa, Europe and North America providing the clearest qualifying stakes, while South America and Asia offer heavyweight continental action.
The schedules differ, but the theme is identical: established powers must convert pedigree into results, while ambitious outsiders have opportunities to reshape their groups.
Union of European Football Associations’ (UEFA’s) Euro 2028 qualifying draw is not until December, so the immediate international focus is the Nations League.
Group A3 is particularly compelling: Spain, England, Croatia and Czechia.
England host Spain on 26 September before travelling to Czechia three days later.
Spain possess extraordinary technical quality and attacking imagination, while England offer athleticism, depth and dangerous set-piece delivery. Defensive balance remains crucial for both.
Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane could define the opening exchanges. Croatia’s experience makes them a potential spoiler.
AFCON 2027 qualifying begins in earnest from 24 September, with Morocco-Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana, Egypt-Angola and Algeria-Zambia among the headline fixtures.
Confédération Africaine de Football Morocco’s Group A also contains Niger and Lesotho, while Group C pairs Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana with The Gambia and Somalia.
Egypt’s Group B includes Angola, Malawi and South Sudan; Algeria’s Group I contains Zambia, Togo and Burundi. Confédération Africaine de Football
On paper, Morocco, Egypt and Algeria possess the deepest squads, but AFCON qualifying regularly punishes complacency.
Morocco’s strength is their balance between technical midfielders and aggressive wide players; their vulnerability can come when opponents defend deeply.
Egypt have attacking invention, with Omar Marmoush an obvious inspiration, but must avoid becoming overly dependent on individual brilliance.
Ghana possess dynamism through Mohammed Kudus, although consistency remains essential. Algeria’s experience and attacking options make them formidable, while Zambia’s pace and directness could make Group I uncomfortable.
There are no Copa América 2028 qualifiers yet, but the continent supplies perhaps the weekend’s most compelling club football.
Libertadores quarter-final second legs dominate, with Fluminense protecting a 2-0 lead against Platense, Flamengo carrying the same advantage over Independiente del Valle, Palmeiras defending a 1-0 margin against LDU Quito, and Corinthians level with Estudiantes. C
Brazilian clubs currently have considerable momentum, but altitude in Quito and disciplined Argentine opposition can transform apparently favourable ties.
Fluminense have Hulk and experienced defender Thiago Silva; Flamengo can call on Bruno Henrique; Palmeiras have Jhon Arias; Corinthians will lean heavily on Rodrigo Garro and goalkeeper Hugo Souza.
The AFC Champions League Elite has already produced surprises.
Al Ain stunned Al Nassr 4-0, while Al Hilal edged Al Gharafa 2-1; defending champions Al Ahli drew with Pakhtakor.
The league-stage format creates a demanding road, with Saudi, Emirati, Iranian, Qatari, Japanese, Korean and Australian clubs competing across regional pools.
Al Hilal’s depth and experience look formidable, but Al Ain’s emphatic opening performance demonstrates that established hierarchy offers no guarantees.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains Al Nassr’s obvious catalyst, while Al Hilal’s collective quality could prove more important than any individual.
The 2026/27 Concacaf Nations League doubles as the qualifying pathway for the 2027 Gold Cup.
League A’s Group A contains Costa Rica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic; the top two advance to the quarter-finals alongside the four seeded nations.
Costa Rica face Curaçao, Haiti meet Trinidad and Tobago, while Dominican Republic play Nicaragua on 24 September.
Costa Rica bring structure and tournament experience; Curaçao possess growing confidence after reaching the 2026 World Cup, while Haiti’s athleticism can trouble stronger opponents.
Manfred Ugalde, Juninho Bacuna and Duckens Nazon are among the players capable of inspiring decisive moments.
Across the regions, the groups reveal contrasting routes to progress: Europe offers elite-on-elite contests, Africa rewards consistency, North America favours adaptability, Asia is becoming increasingly unpredictable, and South America remains brutally unforgiving.
The next fortnight should expose which reputations survive pressure—and which emerging sides are ready to challenge the established order.
– CAJ News