Defending champions Germany clinched a place at next year's World Cup in Russia with a 3-1 win in Northern Ireland on Thursday, while England beat Slovenia 1-0 to secure its spot.
Sebastian Rudy and Sandro Wagner struck brilliant first-half goals in Belfast before Joshua Kimmich added a late third as Joachim Loew's team made it nine wins out of nine in European qualifying Group C.
The four-time world champion also maintained its proud unbeaten away record in World Cup qualifiers a run spanning an incredible 47 matches dating back to 1934.
"We're off to Russia, to tear it up! We want to successfully defend the World Cup title," said Bayern Munich midfielder Rudy following his first international goal.
Northern Ireland, which grabbed a consolation through Josh Magennis, remains on track to claim a spot in next month's play-offs as it attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Harry Kane continued his stunning goalscoring form with a 94th minute winner as an unimpressive England overcame Slovenia at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate's side looked utterly bereft of ideas until skipper Kane converted Kyle Walker's inviting cross to score his 14th goal in nine games for club and country.
It is the sixth time in succession England have qualified for the World Cup, but after making such heavy work of defeating Slovenia, it is unlikely to give the game's super-powers many sleepless nights.
"It's not a relief, I always thought we'd achieve the objective (of qualifying)," said South gate. "Tonight highlighted where we are.
"We know exactly where we need to improve. We do have players who can score goals. It is a work in progress and when I was given the job the aim was to qualify for the World Cup"
Scotland kept alive its hopes of reaching the finals for the first time since 1998 after a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home to Slovakia.
Martin Skrtel's own goal, just a minute from the end of normal time in Glasgow, leaves Scotland second in Group F, two points ahead of Slovakia and three in front of Slovakia and three in front of Slovenia ahead of Sunday's trip to Ljubljana.
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick to become his country's record goalscorer as Poland trashed Armenia 6-1 in Yerevan.
Poland, which finished third at the 1974 and 1982 World Cups, needs a point from its final match at home to Group E rival Montenegro to assure itself of a place in the finals.
After Kamil Grosicki's second minute opener, Lewandowski curled in a brilliant free-kick to draw level with Wlodzimiers Lubanski, who represented Poland from 1963 to 1980, on 48 international goals.
The Bayern Munich star claimed the outright record when he blasted home an indirect free-kick and completed his treble in the second half as Jakub Blaszczykowski and Rafal Wolski also scored for the visitors.
Lewandowski also broke a European record set in August by Cristiano Ronaldo by increasing his tally in 2018 World Cup qualifiers to 15 goals, one more than the Portugal captain.
Christian Eriksen's 16th minute goal steered Denmark to a 1-0 win in Montenegro to maintain its hopes of overhauling a three-point deficit to Poland when it hosts Romania in its final qualifier.
Meanwhile in the South American group, Uruguay failed to break down Venezuela in a 0-0 draw on Thursday and was left waiting to bag what looked a certain place at the 2018 World Cup finals.
The Uruguayans, second in the group behind already qualified Brazil (38), is on 28 points and will hope to secure its place at the Russia finals when it hosts Bolivia onTuesday.
Uruguay has a goal difference of +10 as opposed to +1 for both Peru and Argentina.
Twice champion and 2014 runner-up Argentina was in serious danger of failing to reach the 2018 World Cup finals after being held to a 0-0 draw by Peru on Thursday.
Lionel Messi's side is on 25 points in sixth place in the 10-team South American group, with only the top four teams qualifying automatically for Russia.
The fifth-placed side, currently Peru, qualifies for a playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand.
Argentina visits Ecuador at high altitude in Quito in the final round of matches on Tuesday while Peru, which is hoping to go to the finals for the first time in 36 years, hosts Colombia in Lima.
Marty Wood
Agence France Presse/Paris
Sebastian Rudy and Sandro Wagner struck brilliant first-half goals in Belfast before Joshua Kimmich added a late third as Joachim Loew's team made it nine wins out of nine in European qualifying Group C.
The four-time world champion also maintained its proud unbeaten away record in World Cup qualifiers a run spanning an incredible 47 matches dating back to 1934.
"We're off to Russia, to tear it up! We want to successfully defend the World Cup title," said Bayern Munich midfielder Rudy following his first international goal.
Northern Ireland, which grabbed a consolation through Josh Magennis, remains on track to claim a spot in next month's play-offs as it attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Harry Kane continued his stunning goalscoring form with a 94th minute winner as an unimpressive England overcame Slovenia at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate's side looked utterly bereft of ideas until skipper Kane converted Kyle Walker's inviting cross to score his 14th goal in nine games for club and country.
It is the sixth time in succession England have qualified for the World Cup, but after making such heavy work of defeating Slovenia, it is unlikely to give the game's super-powers many sleepless nights.
"It's not a relief, I always thought we'd achieve the objective (of qualifying)," said South gate. "Tonight highlighted where we are.
"We know exactly where we need to improve. We do have players who can score goals. It is a work in progress and when I was given the job the aim was to qualify for the World Cup"
Scotland kept alive its hopes of reaching the finals for the first time since 1998 after a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home to Slovakia.
Martin Skrtel's own goal, just a minute from the end of normal time in Glasgow, leaves Scotland second in Group F, two points ahead of Slovakia and three in front of Slovakia and three in front of Slovenia ahead of Sunday's trip to Ljubljana.
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick to become his country's record goalscorer as Poland trashed Armenia 6-1 in Yerevan.
Poland, which finished third at the 1974 and 1982 World Cups, needs a point from its final match at home to Group E rival Montenegro to assure itself of a place in the finals.
After Kamil Grosicki's second minute opener, Lewandowski curled in a brilliant free-kick to draw level with Wlodzimiers Lubanski, who represented Poland from 1963 to 1980, on 48 international goals.
The Bayern Munich star claimed the outright record when he blasted home an indirect free-kick and completed his treble in the second half as Jakub Blaszczykowski and Rafal Wolski also scored for the visitors.
Lewandowski also broke a European record set in August by Cristiano Ronaldo by increasing his tally in 2018 World Cup qualifiers to 15 goals, one more than the Portugal captain.
Christian Eriksen's 16th minute goal steered Denmark to a 1-0 win in Montenegro to maintain its hopes of overhauling a three-point deficit to Poland when it hosts Romania in its final qualifier.
Meanwhile in the South American group, Uruguay failed to break down Venezuela in a 0-0 draw on Thursday and was left waiting to bag what looked a certain place at the 2018 World Cup finals.
The Uruguayans, second in the group behind already qualified Brazil (38), is on 28 points and will hope to secure its place at the Russia finals when it hosts Bolivia onTuesday.
Uruguay has a goal difference of +10 as opposed to +1 for both Peru and Argentina.
Twice champion and 2014 runner-up Argentina was in serious danger of failing to reach the 2018 World Cup finals after being held to a 0-0 draw by Peru on Thursday.
Lionel Messi's side is on 25 points in sixth place in the 10-team South American group, with only the top four teams qualifying automatically for Russia.
The fifth-placed side, currently Peru, qualifies for a playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand.
Argentina visits Ecuador at high altitude in Quito in the final round of matches on Tuesday while Peru, which is hoping to go to the finals for the first time in 36 years, hosts Colombia in Lima.
Marty Wood
Agence France Presse/Paris
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