“Gyokeres’ hat-trick leads Sweden to victory while Kosovo dreams.”

In what turned out to be a night of heightened emotions, [Viktor Gyokeres](https://apitofinal.pt/internacional/victor-gyokeres-brilha-e-suecos-vencem-ucrania-rumo-a-final-do-play-off/) was the standout hero of the match, scoring an impressive hat-trick and leading Sweden to a decisive 3-1 victory over Ukraine in the playoff semi-finals. Under the guidance of Graham Potter, the Swedish national team is now just one win away from securing a place in the World Cup, a goal that seemed distant before the clash held in Valencia, Spain.

Gyokeres, who had not found the net in the qualifiers for the [2026 World Cup](https://apitofinal.pt/internacional/locatelli-revela-aviso-de-gattuso-e-sente-a-responsabilidade-pela-italia/), showcased his true talent by opening the scoring just six minutes into the match. His class was evident when, following a well-constructed play, he found the net again in the 51st minute. His hat-trick was sealed with a powerful penalty in the 73rd minute, thus securing the match ball and a place in the playoff final.

Sweden will now face Poland in the final scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, after the Poles also turned the game around against Albania, winning 2-1. Veteran [Robert Lewandowski](https://apitofinal.pt/internacional/zielinski-brilha-e-garante-passagem-da-polonia-sobre-a-albania-nos-playoffs-do-mundial/), at 37 years old, once again stood out by scoring one of his team’s goals, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest goal scorers in football history.

But the night was not only a celebration for Sweden. Kosovo, currently ranked 77th in the FIFA rankings, keeps its hope alive to debut in the summer tournament. After an incredible comeback, they managed to defeat Slovakia 4-3, and now face Turkey in Pristina, where a victory will secure their place in the competition.

Turkey, on the other hand, had no trouble overcoming Romania, winning 1-0 with a goal from Ferdi Kadioglu, a Brighton defender, who stood out in the match held in Istanbul. And in Copenhagen, Denmark put on a real show by defeating North Macedonia 4-0, with all the goals scored in the second half of the match. Mikkel Damsgaard of Brentford opened the scoring, while Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard sealed the victory.

Unfortunately, not all dreams came true. Northern Ireland saw their journey to the World Cup end with a 2-0 defeat against a powerful Italian team. Wales, on the other hand, had to sweat it out, taking the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina to extra time after a 1-1 draw in regular time. The Republic of Ireland came close to securing victory, leading 2-0 against the Czech Republic, but the hosts managed to recover and take the match into extra time.

With these high stakes and thrilling twists, the race for the World Cup promises many more surprises. Stay tuned, as more action is on the way!

This article first appeared on Apito Final.