Kazakhstan Secures Dominant 4-0 Victory Over Liechtenstein in World Cup Qualifier

Match Overview

The Kazakhstan national football team achieved a decisive 4-0 victory against Liechtenstein in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. The encounter took place on October 10, 2025, at the Astana Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan. This result marks Kazakhstan's second win in the current qualifying campaign.

Key Moments and Goal Scorers

Kazakhstan took control of the match early, with Galymzhan Kenzhebek opening the scoring in the 26th minute with a long-range strike. Just two minutes later, Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov doubled the lead with a precise finish, assisted by Kenzhebek. In the second half, Kenzhebek added his second goal in the 59th minute, further extending Kazakhstan's advantage. The final goal came in the 81st minute from defender Alibek Kasym, sealing the 4-0 scoreline. The game was officiated by a team of referees led by Pawel Raczkowski of Poland.

Group J Standings and Context

Both Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein are competing in Group J of the European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Other teams in this group include Belgium, Wales, and North Macedonia. With this victory, Kazakhstan moved to fourth place in Group J, accumulating six points from six matches. Conversely, Liechtenstein remains at the bottom of the table, still seeking their first point in the qualification round. A previous encounter between these two teams in Vaduz earlier in the campaign also resulted in a 2-0 away win for Kazakhstan. It has been noted that some of Liechtenstein's players are not professional footballers, contributing to the team's challenges in the qualifiers.

Implications for the Qualifiers

The win provides a boost for Kazakhstan's campaign, though their chances of direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup remain challenging. For Liechtenstein, the match underscored their ongoing struggle in the qualifiers, as they continue to search for their first points and goals in the competition.