The first of the intercontinental cups to finish was the World League, the final of which pitted two different teams against one another. On the one hand, Denmark came from the Nations League after finishing 3rd in their group, eliminating Norway, Egypt, Algeria and Germany. On the other side, Ecuador topped their World League group, before eliminating Peru, Romania and Chile to get the chance to win at home, in Quito. This was doubly important for Ecuador as a win would qualify them for the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Challenge as the 4th CONMEBOL team in the 4-year ranking, whereas a loss would send Peru through and eliminate Ecuador.
Denmark were no strangers to the World League final, reaching it for the fifth time, but having won only one edition, in 2001-02. Their previous finals appearance was once again against a home team, with Nigeria defeating them in Abuja in 2008-09. Ecuador for their part reached the final for the second time since 2004-05, where they defeated Australia in the final.
Ecuador started off well, with Enner Valencia, the competition's top scorer, scoring the only goal before half-time. However, Denmark reacted in kind right after the break with a header from Holjund. With a draw at 90 minutes, it looked like it was going to go to extra time, when Valencia scored from outside the box in what he thought was the winning goal. However, Denmark, with only 30 seconds to spare, equalized at the last possible moment with a blocked shot by Poulsen which came back to Holjund to make it 2-2. Extra time was very grueling, with neither team managing to find an opening. Finally, as things looked to go to penalties, a free kick given at the last minute was taken for Denmark. Braithwaite served it into the box, where it was countered by an Ecuadorian defender, but rolled straight into Eriksen's legs. The Danish captain made it 3-2 for his team, thus giving Denmark their 2nd title in the competition and guaranteeing themselves a spot in the Nations League next season. For Ecuador, it was a terrible disappointment, after seeing victory snatched from them at the last possible moment, and at home to boot. Being 31st in the FIFA standings, they would have to make a good Copa America in order to qualify for the Nations League next season...or try their chance in the new World League format, which, with no transfers from the Nations League, could be beneficial for them.
Group A: Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela, South Africa
Group B: Nigeria, Norway, Greece, Jamaica
Group C: Algeria, Panama, Mali, Qatar
Group D: Wales, Cameroon, Finland, Ghana
Group E: Hungary, Costa Rica, Ireland, Slovenia
Group F: Egypt, Slovakia, Burkina Faso, Albania
Group G: Czech Republic, Canada, Ivory Coast, Northern Ireland
Group H: Turkey, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1. Ecuador 2. Venezuela 3. Paraguay 4. South Africa
1. Greece 2. Norway 3. Nigeria 4. Jamaica
1. Algeria 2. Mali 3. Panama 4. Qatar
1. Wales 2. Cameroon 3. Finland 4. Ghana
1. Hungary 2. Slovenia 3. Ireland 4. Costa Rica
1. Egypt 2. Slovakia 3. Burkina Faso 4. Albania
1. Canada 2. Czech Republic 3. Northern Ireland 4. Ivory Coast
1. Turkey 2. Romania 3. Saudi Arabia 4. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Top Scorer: Enner Valencia (Ecuador - 10 goals)
Winner's Route:
Nations League
Group Stage
Denmark 1 - 0 Uruguay (Ceres Park, Aarhus) - Hojbjerg 90+7'
South Korea 3 - 2 Denmark (Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon) - Lee Kang-In 3', 69'; Christensen (og) 81' / Eriksen 10'; Andersen 19'
Belgium 1 - 0 Denmark (Stade Joseph Marien, Forest-lez-Bruxelles) - Lukebakio 82'
Denmark 1 -
2 Belgium (Farum Park, Farum) - Holjund 64' / Lukaku 25'; Onana 78'
Denmark 0 - 0 South Korea (Energi Viborg Arena, Viborg)
Uruguay 0 -
4 Denmark (Estadio Parque Artigas, Las Piedras) - Hjulmand 13'; Christensen 74'; Delaney 80'; O'Riley 90'
World League
Play-Off
Denmark 3 - 2 Norway (Brondby Stadion, Brondby) - Hojbjerg 9'; Daramy 20'; Dolberg 24' / Bobb 12'; Sorloth 51'
Norway 1 - 1 Denmark (Aker Stadion, Molde) - Odegaard 87' / Hojbjerg 2'
Round of 16
Denmark 3 - 0 Egypt (Parken, Copenhagen) - Jensen 66'; Dreyer 73'; Dolberg 90+7'
Egypt 0 - 0 Denmark (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo)
Quarter-Finals
Algeria 0 - 0 Denmark (Stade du 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers)
Denmark 2 - 1 Algeria (Parken, Copenhagen) - Eriksen 36'; Holjund 45' / Benzia 15'
Semi-Finals
Denmark 1 - 1 Germany (Parken, Copenhagen) - Delaney 7' / Mittelstadt 10'
Germany 0 -
1 Denmark (Allianz Arena, Munich) - Hojbjerg 34'
Final
Denmark 3 - 2 aet Ecuador (Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa, Quito) - Holjund 52', 90+8'; Eriksen 120+1' / Valencia 40', 90+3'