Was this the Best International Break Ever?

Was this the Best International Break Ever?

It’s a question worth asking. For all the hate that the September, October, and November international breaks receive, whether it be for interrupting the top-flight club season, or simply for the football on display lacking excitement, it must be said that the November 2025 instalment was an absolute corker.

Terrible week for international football haters

— Luke 🇮🇪 (@LukeUTD_) November 18, 2025

Of course, there was always going to be increased fervour surrounding international football as countless World Cup qualifying campaigns came to a head, but even so, no one expected the drama we have seen over the last three or four days.

Troy Parrott’s Ireland heroics, Curaçao becoming the smallest nation by population to ever qualify for the World Cup, Scotland ending their 28-year wait for the biggest tournament of them all, and so many more besides – we really have seen the best international football has to offer over the last week and a half.

So, let’s answer the question - was this the best international break of all time?

Sort Of ...

You see, you can technically count every summertime international tournament as a break, and you’re being pedantic and saying that these tournaments don’t interfere with regular domestic campaigns across the world, you certainly couldn’t say that about the 2022 World Cup, which, by taking place in December, became an extended mid-season international break.

With the 2022 World Cup in the mix, then the answer would be an overwhelming no. However, one perfectly valid argument a fan could make is that it was the finest World Cup qualification fortnight many had seen in their lifetime, and with that, I cannot disagree.

OFFICIAL: FIFA have confirmed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will start November 21 with the final taking place December 18 🏆 pic.twitter.com/aJegkOx5SB

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 15, 2020

It had a bit of absolutely everything - nail-biting tension, last-minute drama, surprise results, heavy wins and, of course, some unexpected qualifiers – and although, as European football fans, we largely focused on the European segment of qualifying, there was no shortage of action on other continents either.

Haiti managed to secure their place at a World Cup for the first time since 1974, the reputation of Chelsea wonderkid Willian Estevao swelled further towards critical mass with two goals in two games, and Iraq netted a 107th-minute winner to keep their World Cup dream alive.

It’s safe to say that, for once, international football delivered - none of those nonsense, boring, slow-playing friendlies, thank you very much - give me last-minute winners, tears of joy and heartache, and the unpredictability of a bull on Adderall.

An Almost United Kingdom … and Ireland

Our home hopes were by far the main focus of the November international break. All of Scotland, Wales and Ireland knew that they had the opportunity to seal an automatic place in North America next summer, while at the same time running the risk of not even getting a shot at the play-offs.

With England already through and Northern Ireland missing out on a play-off spot by three points, the focus of the British Isles shifted to the affairs of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Ireland’s run-in was, by a very small margin, the most dramatic - needing wins over Portugal and Hungary to even claim a play-off spot, many had written them off, and understandably so. After all, Portugal were crowned European champions just nine years ago, and Hungary are a growing force on the international scene.

However, a Troy Parrott brace and a Cristiano Ronaldo red card saw the nation's hopes suddenly come into sharp relief, and they knew that a win over Hungary and a shock Portugal defeat to Armenia would see them top the group and book their ticket to the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card against Ireland.🟥 pic.twitter.com/Py1QCVuSVE

— Epic Red Cards (@epicredcards) November 14, 2025

Portugal did not lose to Armenia - emphatically so, in fact, demolishing the tiny Eastern European nation 9-1 to seal the top spot, meaning that Ireland had to beat Hungary to guarantee a play-off spot.

And in typical Irish fashion, they made things immensely difficult for themselves, trailing twice, with Parrott once again coming up clutch to equalise on both occasions. The game was teed up perfectly going into added time, and we all know what happened next. Latching onto a flick on in the box, Parrott poked the ball into the Hungary net, sparking wild limbs throughout the stadium and beyond, and booking Ireland’s place in the play-off.

Troy Parrott, take your place on the pantheon of Irish greats 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/KATKNMZO4g

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 16, 2025

It was a scene that reminded us why international football is still so important - though so many games may seem unimportant, dull and unnecessary, it was nights like this that made us proud to support our home nation.

Then it was Scotland’s turn, and for them, even more was on the line. Manager Steve Clarke knew that only a win against Denmark would seal their safe passage to the World Cup automatically.

Denmark, on the other hand, only required a draw to confirm their place, and there were huge concerns that the Danes would sit back and allow Scotland to tire themselves out with the ball. However, that strategy went out the window just three minutes in, when Scotland’s star player Scott McTominay scored possibly one of the most beautiful overhead kicks of all time.

It was a sumptuous goal and, given the circumstance, was worthy of winning the Puskás Award in any given year - however, the Scots failed to capitalise on it. McTominay’s stunner would be their only shot on goal for over an hour.

MCTOMINAY!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

UNBELIEVABLE! 😲#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/F0IFFjU49e

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) November 18, 2025

In that time, McTominay’s Napoli teammate Rasmus Hojlund would score from the spot, putting Denmark back on top of the group, and though Rasmus Kristensen was shown a second yellow just three minutes later, Scotland looked unlikely to take advantage - they simply looked short of ideas.

However, against the run of play, a wicked corner from Ewan Ferguson was prodded home by Lawrence Shankland, handing Scotland top spot once again. And once more, Scotland were the masters of their own downfall, allowing Man United’s Patrick Dorgu to equalise just four minutes later.

Just like in the Ireland game, the match headed into added time poised beautifully at 2-2, and in another uncanny similarity, it was some death-defying drama that secured Scotland the win. In the third minute of stoppage time, Keiran Tierney curled home a wonderful finish from the edge of the box, all but sealing victory.

Denmark were now desperate to push players forward despite their one-man disadvantage, knowing they would otherwise be doomed to the lottery of the play-off. However, they paid the price dearly.

Giving the ball away on the halfway line, Kenny McClean, whether out of daring or out of sheer fatigue, launched an attempt from inside his own half which hung in the air forever. As soon as fans realised the ball would land beyond Schmeichel, Hampden Park erupted, and when it hit the net, many would be complaining of a minor earthquake in the local area.

McTominay, Tierney and McClean had scored three of the best goals in Scottish history to plot a path to their first World Cup in 28 years in a winner-takes-all fixture - how could you not love international football after that?

THE GAME THAT PUT SCOTLAND IN THE WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 30 YEARS 🍿

- Overhead kick from McTominay
- Tierney curler for the winner
- Half-field stunner from McLean

ABSOLUTE MAYHEM 😱 pic.twitter.com/WubcAsgqax

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 18, 2025

Wales also managed a 7-1 hiding of North Macedonia, but thanks to Belgium maintaining their unbeaten record in the group, they were forced into the play-off spots, where they can face any country from Italy to Albania. Imagine if they face off with Ireland …

Around the World

Though the late drama was mostly isolated to the British Isles, there was plenty more excitement to be found elsewhere in the world.

Curaçao, an island nation of just 150,000 people, secured their spot at their first World Cup with a 0-0 draw against a superiorly talented Jamaica team, a result which saw former England and Newcastle manager Steve McClaren sacked for failing to deliver a World Cup spot for the Caribbean nation.

Iraq also kept their World Cup dreams alive by the skin of their teeth when Amir Al-Ammari’s penalty found the net 17 minutes into second-half overtime to scrape past a dogged UAE side in a two-legged qualification match.

These scenes are AMAZING 🇮🇶🇦🇺⚽️

Aussie coach Graham Arnold is swamped by his players after moving Iraq one step closer to their first World Cup in 40 years!

More: https://t.co/ZfUKcJA7BN pic.twitter.com/XYmLB4XoRl

— Football360.com.au (@football360au) November 18, 2025

Iraq will now be placed in a pot alongside five other Asian teams in a play-off group, with only two places up for grabs.

One nation which is not being praised enough is Haiti - topping a group containing Honduras and Costa Rica, both of whom have qualified for World Cup tournaments since 2010, it marked a magnificent turnaround for a country that has been in turmoil for over a decade.

Between the catastrophic earthquake of 2010 and various attempted coups on the government, Haiti has been far from a united nation in recent times, and their qualification for football’s biggest competition will only have a positive effect on the nation.

I could go on and mention Estevao’s seniority in the Brazilian team despite his age, Italy’s failure to automatically qualify despite a talented squad and a European title claimed just four years ago, and San Marino scoring just their second goal of the qualification stage against Romania, but I’ve already stretched this article to near breaking point.

2018 ❌
2022 ❌
2026 ⏳

Italy are on the brink of missing a third-straight World Cup 🇮🇹🥶 pic.twitter.com/ac7siujRLD

— Sport360Football (@Sport360Foot) November 19, 2025

The point of this exercise was to go against the popular narrative. We all know that the majority of football fans don’t like the international break - they are very much of the view that if there isn’t a major tournament on, then international football isn’t worth watching.

In the early stages of qualification, as well as for Nations League football, I would agree.

However, nothing beats the drama at the tail-end of a qualification campaign. With so much on the line, including World Cup spots, national pride, and long-standing records, players and managers alike have the chance to write themselves into international history, a feat which we have seen more of over the last week and a half than in the last year of international fixtures.

So, let’s raise a drink to international football - whether you love it or you hate it, you can’t deny that at least this time, it was worth watching.