Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha. The victory, Ancelotti's first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil have now qualified for every edition of the World Cup. "We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup," said Vinicius Jr. "Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn't one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win. "Now it's time to celebrate qualifying." Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires. Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Argentina were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez for a high-boot challenge on Colombia's Kevin Castano. But Lionel Messi's side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon's Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela. Ecuador, Argentina's nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.

Manchester City have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon before the first of this summer's transfer deadlines. City will pay an initial fee of £30.45m, and Cherki has signed a five-year deal until 2030. The 21-year-old will be able to play for City at the Club World Cup, which begins in the United States on 14 June. Cherki has already made almost 200 appearances for Lyon and has scored once in his two caps for France. "This is a dream for me," said Cherki. "Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special." He is City's third signing in two days, with coach Pep Guardiola having brought in Algeria left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves for £31m on Monday, followed by back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea earlier on Tuesday. Cherki made his senior debut for Lyon aged 16 in October 2019 and leaves the club having claimed 29 goals and 45 assists in 185 games. "I have worked so hard for this all my life," Cherki added. "I love this sport, and I can't wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep and his backroom staff. "The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace. I would only leave Lyon for a project I really believe in and everything at City suggests I can develop my game and help the team be successful in the future."

Tuchel's side laboured badly throughout and were second best to impressive opposition, who became the first African team to beat England's men. A frustrating night for the Three Lions actually began well for them as they took the lead after seven minutes when captain Harry Kane pounced for his 73rd England goal. That came after goalkeeper Edouard Mendy failed to hold Anthony Gordon's shot, but it was as good as it got for England, who were sunk by goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly. Dean Henderson, in for regular keeper Jordan Pickford, was kept busy as the hosts struggled away from their usual Wembley base, and Senegal drew level five minutes before the break when Kyle Walker switched off to allow Sarr to steal in at the far post. It was the first goal England had conceded under Tuchel in four games, and Senegal probed England's defensive vulnerability throughout. The visitors got the lead their dominance merited when Diarra exploited space behind England's defence to beat Henderson, firing through his legs at the near post just after the hour. England went in search of an equaliser, with Mendy making amends for his earlier error by producing fine saves from substitute Morgan Gibbs-White and Bukayo Saka. Tuchel's side also had a late strike from Jude Bellingham ruled out for handball against Levi Colwill after a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention. But Senegal wrapped up the win in the dying seconds of stoppage time when substitute Curtis Jones lost possession, allowing Sabaly to finish England off with a cool finish, sparking an angry reaction from the home supporters who remained inside the City Ground. England had 15 wins and six draws from their previous 21 matches against African opponents, but here they were well beaten in the end.

The freewheeling home side were 3-0 up after just 27 minutes. Romelu Lukaku put them in front from the penalty spot before Youri Tielemans stylishly finished off an incisive team move, and Jeremy Doku feigned, jinked and fired into the bottom corner for the Belgians' third. Wales were staring into the abyss of a first loss since a 4-0 thrashing by Slovakia exactly one year earlier cost previous manager Rob Page his job, and the scoreline suggested this could become a heavy one. But Wales are a different team under Bellamy, and they responded brilliantly to a bleak situation as Harry Wilson's penalty moments before half-time gave them a glimmer of hope. They truly started to believe an improbable comeback was on when Wilson's excellent cross set up Sorba Thomas to fire in his first Wales goal, and then Brennan Johnson headed in an equaliser to spark spectacular celebrations in a raucous away end. Yet just as Welsh fans were dreaming of another famous result against the nation they so memorably beat in a Euro 2016 quarter-final - particularly after the video assistant referee (VAR) disallowed a Lukaku second - De Bruyne popped up at the back post to score. Then it was the Belgians' turn to celebrate wildly, the sense of relief palpable as they survived what would have been a revival for the ages. Despite their monumental effort, Wales slip down to second place in Group J, replaced at the summit by North Macedonia following their win in Kazakhstan earlier on Monday.

Cristiano Ronaldo pulled Portugal level at 2-2 in the 61st minute, but there was nothing else to separate the two sides when the referee signalled the end of normal time. Subbed off before extra time, Portugal captain Ronaldo dropped to the turf and sobbed tears of joy on the sidelines after Ruben Neves slotted home the winning penalty following Diogo Costa's save from Alvaro Morata's spot-kick. Winners of the 2023 edition, Spain had opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Martin Zubimendi poked home after Portugal failed to clear their lines. Their lead was short-lived as Nuno Mendes slammed a low, angled strike past Unai Simon and into the far corner of the net five minutes later. Mikel Oyarzabal, who netted a late winner in last summer's European Championship final against England, restored La Roja's advantage before the break. But Ronaldo came to Portugal's rescue as he shrugged off Marc Cucurella to reach Mendes' deflected cross and hook a volley in from close range. Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all calmly fired their penalties home before Morata's weak effort was stopped by Costa. And as Neves converted the final spot-kick, Portugal became the first team to win two Nations League titles - denying Spain, who were vying for the same honour.