Poland survived a major scare to narrowly defeat Malta 3-2 in a UEFA World Cup qualifier on November 18, 2025. The match was far more difficult than anticipated for the Polish side, who needed a late goal to secure all three points against a determined Maltese team. Malta took a surprise lead, and despite Poland fighting back to go ahead, the hosts equalized to set up a tense finale. The winning goal for Poland came in the closing stages, sparing them from a disastrous result. While the performance raised concerns, the result kept Poland's qualification hopes alive, highlighting the unpredictable nature of away fixtures in international football.