A host of West Ham United players are set for make-or-break fixtures during the upcoming international break, with places at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals up for grabs.
In Europe, Jose Fonte’s Portugal have their fate in their own hands in Group B, knowing victories in Andorra and at home to Edimilson Fernandes’ Switzerland will almost certainly seal their place at Russia 2018.
The UEFA Euro 2016 winners sit second in their group, three points behind leaders Switzerland, but two wins will see them qualify on goal difference, unless the Swiss thrash Hungary by a highly unusual margin.
Marko Arnatuovic’s Austria face two must-win Group D ties at home to Serbia in Vienna on Friday 6 October and away in Moldova three days later.
Austria sit fourth in Group D, five points behind Wales and four behind the Republic of Ireland, and need two emphatic wins, the Irish to lose at home to Moldova, Wales to lose in Georgia and the Welsh and Irish to draw in Cardiff to have any chance of finishing second and qualifying for a two-legged Play-Off.
In the CONCACAF region, Chicharito could reach 99 international caps as Mexico complete their already successful qualifying campaign with a home tie with Trinidad & Tobago in San Luis Potosi and trip to San Pedro Sula to face Honduras.
Mexico have already sealed their place at Russia 2018 and can complete the CONCACAF Round 5 campaign unbeaten if they avoid defeat in their final two qualifiers.
In Africa, Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate have been included in the Senegal squad for a World Cup African qualifying Group D fixture in the Cape Verde Islands.
The Lions of Teranga need a win at the National Stadium in Praia on Saturday 7 October to boost their hopes of overhauling group leaders Burkina Faso and their second-place hosts to earn an automatic place in Russia.
Winston Reid will travel further than any other Hammer, with New Zealand visiting Nagoya to face Japan for a friendly international.
The All Whites will tackle the fifth-placed South American group finisher – possibly Manuel Lanzini’s Argentina – in November, with the winner going to Russia.
At age-group level, Declan Rice and Josh Cullen are in the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for home Group 5 ties with Martin Samuelsen’s Norway – who also host Germany in Drammen – and Israel in Dublin.
Domingos Quina’s Portugal U20s travel to Switzerland and host Italy in friendly matches, while Dan Kemp is in the England U19 squad for friendlies in Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Finally, Anthony Scully’s Republic of Ireland U19s host Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Serbia in UEFA European Championship qualifiers in Waterford.