Tuesday night in Guadalajara, Newcastle United past and present, DR Congo v Jamaica, the prize a place at the world cup finals this summer.
Starting for DR Congo, Yoane Wissa and Chancel Mbemba, the former Newcastle United defender.
Whilst turning out for Jamaica, the ex-United midfielder Isaac Hayden.
One strange fact, at least for me, is that Chancel Mbemba is only the same age as Isaac Hayden, both aged 31.
Last night ended in ecstasy for Yoane Wissa and his teammates, at the end of a goalless 90 minutes the Newcastle United striker subbed off, whilst Mbemba played the extra-time as well. Isaac Hayden subbed off on 84 minutes.
The big moment came in the 11th minute of the first period of extra-time, Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe scoring the goal that sent DR Congo through to the world cup finals.
This the first time since their sole appearance previously, back in 1974 when qualifying for the world cup finals in Germany, back then they played under the banner of Zaire.
For Jamaica, the 1998 world cup finals in France remain their only appearance.
A season that has been marred by injury and fitness issues, seeing at last some joy for Yoane Wissa with the world cup finals to look forward to. Hopefully that lift will give him the impetus to play a part in a positive end to the season with Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United striker William Osula an unused sub as Denmark lost out on penalties to the Czech Republic after their game ended 2-2.
This makes it a 50% success rate for Newcastle United players, with Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga looking forward to the world cup finals this summer. Whilst William Osula and Sandro Tonali missing out.
This is the March 2026 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Wednesday 25 March
Bermuda 0 DR Congo 2 (Friendly)
Yoane Wissa scoring a 51st minute penalty, as DR Congo warm up for their all or nothing World Cup play-off match.
Thursday 26 March
Italy 2 Northern Ireland 0
A brilliant man of the match performance from Sandro Tonali, as he scored a quality volley to put Italy ahead in this World Cup play-off semi-final, then getting an assist for Moise Kean as his goal made sure of progress to a World Cup play-off final next Tuesday against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Denmark 4 North Macedonia 0
William Osula an unused sub as the Danes progress to the World Cup play-off finals, set to face Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Ukraine 1 Sweden 3
Anthony Elanga subbed off in added time having helped Sweden progress to the World Cup play-off finals, they will face Poland on Tuesday.
Friday 27 March
England 1 Uruguay 1
Tino Livramento one of only two outfield players to play the full game he did okay. Aaron Ramsdale an unused sub.
Lewis Hall got the last 20 minutes and did okay, like Tino. Whilst Harvey Barnes also got 20 minutes and was pretty much anonymous, apart from cheated out of his first England goal when he volleyed home a poor Palmer corner, only for Ben White to score instead when tapping it in from a few inches out.
Switzerland 3 Germany 4
Nick Woltemade came on after 63 minutes when Switzerland led 3-2, helping Germany to a 4-3 win. Big Nick playing well when replacing Kai Havertz who had been so poor. Wirtz man of the match though with two assists and two goals. Malick Thiaw an unused sub but not a bad night for him either, as Germany’s central defenders had an atrocious night. The Newcastle pair set to get their chance to start on Monday against Ghana.
Monday 30 March
Germany 2 Ghana 1
Nick Woltemade started in this latest win for Germany. The Newcastle United striker unlucky to see one effort come back off the woodwork, whilst a brilliant flick by Big Nick to set Wirtz up for a ‘goal’ was ruled out for a dubious offside. Germany dominated and should have won at a canter but in the end a penalty from Havertz and a late goal from Undav got the win. Nick Woltemade was subbed off on 78 minutes whilst Malick Thiaw was an unused sub.
Tuesday 31 March
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 Italy 1 AET (Bosnia-Herzegovina win 4-1 on penalties)
This is now three world cup finals in a row that Italy have failed to qualify for. Italy taking the lead on 15 minutes in this play-off but the game all changed on 41 minutes when Bastoni was red carded. Italy held out until 79 minutes with ten men before conceding, then they managed the rest of the 90 minutes plus another half hour extra-time to take it to penalties. Sandro Tonali put in an epic shift in midfield, as Italy played for 80+ minutes a man down. Then the Newcastle United star the only one to convert his penalty in the shootout, the hosts scoring all of their four whilst Tonali’s teammates failed.
Sweden 3 Poland 2
A brilliant strike from Anthony Elanga set Sweden on their way in this world cup final play-off. Poland equalising, Sweden taking the lead again, Poland equalising once more. Then with two minutes of normal time remaining, Gyokeres getting an easy chance to seal it. Anthony Elanga had been subbed off with the score at 2-2 in the 69th minute and now he and his international teammates are on their way to the summer’s world cup finals.
DR Congo 1 Jamaica 0
A goal in extra-time from Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe sending DR Congo through to the world cup finals. Yoane Wissa subbed off after playing the standard 90 minutes, whilst former United defender Chancel Mbemba played the full two hours for DR Congo. On the losing side was Jamaica’s one-time Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden.
Czech Republic 2 Denmark 2 AET (Czech Republic win 3-1 on penalties)
Newcastle United striker William Osula an unused sub as Denmark lost out on penalties, the same as Sandro Tonali and Italy.