Israel Dominates Moldova in World Cup Qualifier: Strategic Victory Bolsters Qualification Hopes

Decisive Victory in Chisinau

Israel secured a commanding 4-0 victory against Moldova in their World Cup qualifier match at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau on September 5, 2025. The match featured a particularly memorable moment when Tai Baribo netted the team’s third goal, sparking celebrations among the Israeli players.

Group Standings and Qualification Race

The impressive win has solidified Israel’s position in their qualifying group, placing them firmly in second place. The current group standings show Norway leading with a perfect record of four wins and no losses, while Israel follows with three wins and one loss. Italy currently holds the third position with two wins and one loss.

Qualification Format and Importance

The stakes are high in this qualification campaign, as the group winner will secure direct qualification to the World Cup finals, while the runner-up will advance to the second round play-offs.

Tournament Context

This match is part of the broader European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which runs from March to November 2025, with play-offs scheduled for March 2026. The convincing victory against Moldova represents a crucial step forward in Israel’s campaign to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Looking Ahead

With this dominant performance, Israel has demonstrated their competitive strength in the group and positioned themselves as serious contenders for qualification. The team’s ability to secure such a decisive victory away from home signals their potential to challenge for top spot in the group as the qualification campaign continues.