The qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on October 12, 2023, with Asian confederation countries competing in their inaugural matches. The first goal was scored by Myanmar’s Lwin Moe Aung in a dominant 5-1 victory against Macau.
As the qualification rounds are nearing completion across all confederations, the final roster of 45 nations set to join tournament hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada remains elusive.
Japan was the first nation to qualify on March 20.
Current Qualified Teams (17/45)
Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria
What’s at stake in October?
Europe and Concacaf: Although qualification ends in November, a number of teams could secure their spots this month.
Africa: The final two rounds of the group stage occur in October, leading to the identification of seven additional nations joining Morocco and Tunisia, along with contenders for the interconfederation playoffs.
Asia: The fourth round takes place this month, where the last two automatic qualifiers will be determined, as well as the two playoff participants.
South America and Oceania: Qualification is complete.
Of the 54 FIFA-affiliated nations in the draw, Eritrea has since withdrawn.
Round 1: Teams were grouped into eight groups of six and one group of five (due to Eritrea’s withdrawal).
The nine group winners will qualify for the World Cup.
This stage commenced in November 2023 and will conclude with two rounds in October.
Qualified (4/9): Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria
Conclusion on Qualification as the Group Stage Ends
Note: The performance of the sixth-placed team in each group is disregarded when determining the best second-place teams.
Group A: EGYPT (23) secured qualification with a 3-0 win over Djibouti (1) on Wednesday, thanks to two goals from Mohamed Salah. Burkina Faso (18) clinched second place with a 1-0 victory against Sierra Leone (12), pending their advancement to the next round.
Group B: Senegal (18) is well-positioned for qualification with favorable upcoming fixtures against South Sudan (4) and Mauritania (6). Two wins would guarantee their spot. DR Congo (16) faces Togo (7) and hosts Sudan (12), hoping for a Senegal misstep. Sudan must win both their games for a chance at second but could be eliminated if DR Congo beats Togo. A win over South Sudan would ensure Senegal qualifies, contingent on a DR Congo loss.
Group C: The group dynamic shifted dramatically when South Africa (14, +3) had their 2-0 victory over Lesotho (9) overturned to a 3-0 defeat due to an ineligible player. This incident dropped South Africa to second behind Benin (14, +4) on goal difference. The race for qualification remains wide open, with any of four teams still in contention.
Group D: Cape Verde (20) missed a chance to qualify after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Libya (15). They face Eswatini (3) next, where victory would secure their spot at the World Cup. If they fail to win, Cameroon (18) could surpass them should they beat Angola (11).
Group E: Morocco (21) has qualified. Niger (12) holds second place, three points clear of Zambia (9). Their crucial match on Sunday could determine who advances, with Niger needing a draw to guarantee their progression, while Zambia must win.
Group F: Ivory Coast (20) can qualify by defeating the bottom two teams in October. They face Seychelles (0) and Kenya (12) next. A slip could open opportunities for Gabon (19), who needs results in their upcoming matches.
Group G: Algeria (22) qualified with a decisive 3-0 victory over Somalia (1). Mozambique (15, -4) faces a strenuous path to second after losing to Guinea but may still contend.
Group H: Tunisia (22) has already qualified. The race for second is tight, especially after a recent victory by Liberia (14) against Namibia (15). Namibia must win their next match to retain control of the race.
Group I: Ghana (22) is in a strong position for qualification following a dominant 5-0 win over the Central African Republic. They hold a critical edge over Madagascar (19) but need a point against Comoros to ensure qualification.
Current rankings of second-placed teams:
1. Cameroon – Played 7, Points 14 (GD +9)
2. Madagascar – 7, 13 (+3)
3. Gabon – 6, 13 (+3)
4. Burkina Faso – 7, 12 (+4)
———-
5. Uganda – 7, 12 (+3)
6. Niger – 7, 12 (0)
7. South Africa – 7, 11 (+1)
8. DR Congo – 6, 10 (+3)
9. Namibia – 7, 9 (+1)
– View the latest fixtures and results here | Current tables
Round 2: The four best runners-up will enter playoffs (two semifinals and a final) to determine one team progressing to the interconfederation playoffs. This phase occurs in November 2025.
Europe features 55 nations, with 54 participating due to Russia’s suspension arising from the Ukraine conflict.
The qualification format consists of 12 groups—some comprised of four or five teams—with home and away matches. The group stage continues through double-headers in October, concluding in November.
The 12 group winners will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the 12 runners-up will enter into the playoff system.
Qualification commenced in March 2025 for most European teams not initially involved in the UEFA Nations League.
Qualified (0/12):
What can be decided in October?
The teams that were in the Nations League finals only began their campaigns in September, so qualification is still open, with opportunities in October.
Group A: Slovakia (6) leads with a perfect record following a surprising victory over Germany (3). The two teams will clash again on November 17. While Slovakia could root for an early qualification, it would necessitate Germany failing to win against Luxembourg.
Group B: Switzerland (6) is well-placed with two wins. If they triumph in matches against Sweden (1) and Slovenia (1) in October, they will secure qualification if Kosovo (3) falters.
Group C: Denmark (7) and Scotland (7) dominate the group, while Greece (3) risks elimination if they lose to Denmark and Scotland secures a win against Belarus (0).
If that scenario unfolds, it will set up a crucial decider between Scotland and Denmark in Glasgow on November 18.
Group D: France (6) has secured two wins, with Iceland (3) close behind. A successful October for France against Azerbaijan (1) and Iceland will confirm their spot, dependent on Iceland not claiming victories against Ukraine (1).
Group E: Top position is held by Spain (6) with a flawless record. Home games against Georgia (3) and Bulgaria (0) in October could secure their place, provided Turkey (3) does not win against Bulgaria, and Georgia draws with Turkey.
Group F: Portugal (6) has won both matches, nearing qualification. A win against the Republic of Ireland (1) and Hungary (1) would finalize their spot unless Armenia performs well in their matches.
Group G: The Netherlands (13) tops the group with Poland (10) in hot pursuit, while Finland (10) clings to an outside chance. Poland must host the Netherlands on November 14, but their current goal difference allows some room for maneuver.
Group H: No team can officially qualify in October, yet Austria (15) holds an advantage after Bosnia & Herzegovina (13) tied with Cyprus (5). Austria also has a game in hand which could solidify their standings.
Group I: Norway (15) is in command ahead of Italy (9) and Israel (9), with a significantly better goal difference. Two wins in October against Israel and Estonia (3) should be enough for Norway to qualify.
Group J: In a fiercely competitive group, North Macedonia (11), Belgium (10), and Wales (10) vie for supremacy. Notable matches planned in October could dictate the group’s final standings.
Group K: England (15) leads with five straight wins and no goals conceded. A win against Latvia (4) in October will qualify them if Serbia doesn’t win against Albania (8) or Andorra (0).
Group L: Croatia and Czechia are tied at 13 points, and following their recent draw, Croatia has an edge with a game in hand. A potential win for Faroe Islands (9) could add drama in the race for second place.
– View the latest fixtures and results here | Current tables
PLAYOFFS
The last four slots for the World Cup will be determined through the UEFA playoffs set for March 2026, without a pathway for advancement through FIFA’s interconfederation playoffs.
The UEFA playoffs will consist of 16 teams: the 12 runners-up from the group stage alongside the four highest-ranked Nations League group winners who did not finish in the top two of World Cup qualifying, leading to four pathways with semifinal and final matches to determine World Cup berths.
The priority for the four UNL playoff spots is based on ranking: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Norway, Wales, Czechia, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova, San Marino.
Given that most group winners were ranked in Pot 1 or 2 for the World Cup qualifying draw, their standings suggest they will qualify. This makes it increasingly unlikely for teams like North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova, and San Marino to secure playoffs.
Seeding:
Pot 1: Top four World Cup qualifying group runners-up with best FIFA World Rankings
Pot 2: Next four teams based on FIFA World Rankings
Pot 3: Teams ranked ninth to twelfth
Pot 4: UEFA Nations League teams
Semifinals:
Pot 1 vs. Pot 4
Pot 2 vs. Pot 3
Traditionally, Concacaf has six automatic places in the World Cup, but for the 2026 finals, three positions are designated for the hosts, leaving three spots for other teams plus two for the interconfederation playoff path.
In total, 32 nations from Concacaf entered the race for the finals.
Round 1: The four lowest-ranked Concacaf nations competed in two-legged matches, resulting in Anguilla and British Virgin Islands overcoming Turks and Caicos Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands, respectively, both by penalties.
Round 2: The top 28-ranked nations plus the Round 1 winners were divided into six groups of five. Each team played once instead of in a home-and-away format, with the first stage played from June 2024 to June 2025.
Advancing teams include: Bermuda, Costa Rica, Curaçao, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Round 3: The 12 remaining teams were placed into three groups of four teams.
This round commenced in September and will conclude in October and November. The group winners will qualify for the World Cup, while the two best runners-up progress to the interconfederation playoffs.
– View the fixtures and results | Current tables
Qualified (0/3):
What’s at stake in October?
Group A: Suriname (4) currently leads, but the competition is tight. Upcoming matches include Suriname vs. Guatemala (1) and El Salvador (3) vs. Panama (2); changes in group standings are expected.
Group B: Jamaica (6) controls the group and can qualify in October with victories against Curaçao (4) and Bermuda (0), coupled with a Curaçao defeat to Trinidad and Tobago (1).
Group C: Haiti (5) gained the lead with a 3-0 victory over Nicaragua (1); Honduras (5) and Costa Rica (3) played to a goalless draw. The upcoming match between Honduras and Haiti will be crucial.
This qualification path is notably complex, featuring multiple stages to identify the eight automatic qualifiers. Major elements will conclude in June.
Round 1: The 20 lowest-ranked nations competed in two-legged matches in October 2023. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, and Yemen advanced.
Round 2: These winners joined the top 26 ranked teams, making a total of 36 teams. They were sorted into nine groups of four, with the top two teams moving on to Round 3. This stage began in November 2023 and ended in June 2024.
Advancing teams include: Australia, Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.
Round 3: Left with 18 nations, they were divided into three groups of six. Matches started in September 2024 and will conclude this Tuesday.
The winning group teams and runners-up will capture the first six World Cup spots, bringing their campaigns to a close.
Japan was the initial nation to qualify on March 20, followed by Iran, Jordan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Australia.
– Check the results | View final tables
Round 4: The six teams in this stage will be split into two groups of three, playing a total of two matches in a selected host country this October.
Qualified (6/8): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia
What will be determined in October?
We will identify the last two automatic qualifiers and the teams that will contend for a playoff in Round 5. Each group has one match scheduled for both Saturday and Tuesday.
Group A: Qatar (hosts), United Arab Emirates, Oman.
Matches: Wednesday: Oman 0-0 Qatar; Saturday: United Arab Emirates vs. Oman; Tuesday: Qatar vs. United Arab Emirates.
Group B: Saudi Arabia (hosts), Iraq, Indonesia.
Matches: Wednesday: Indonesia: 2-3 Saudi Arabia; Saturday: Iraq vs. Indonesia; Tuesday: Saudi Arabia vs. Iraq.
Round 5: A two-legged tie set for November 2025 will determine the last berth for the interconfederation playoffs.
All 10 nations participated in a home-and-away format, with the top six automatically qualifying for the finals. The seventh-ranked team will enter the interconfederation playoffs in March.
The initial qualifiers emerged in September 2023, and the league phase wrapped up in September 2025.
Qualified (6/6): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay
Bolivia is set to participate in the interconfederation playoffs.
– Check out the results | Final table
All 11 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) nations participated.
Round 1: The four lowest-ranked countries engaged in knockout matches (two semifinals and final) held in Samoa in September 2024.
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa, and Tonga competed, with Samoa defeating Tonga 2-1 to advance.
Round 2: Samoa joined the seven highest-ranked teams into two groups of four, competing in October and November 2024 across Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
The top two from each group, New Caledonia, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Fiji, moved on to Round 3.
– Check out the results here | Final tables
Round 3: The remaining four teams competed in a knockout format (two semifinals and a final) in New Zealand in March 2025.
Semifinals, March 21
New Caledonia 3-0 Tahiti
New Zealand 7-0 Fiji
Final, March 24
New Caledonia 0-3 New Zealand
Qualified (1/1): New Zealand
Having won the final, New Zealand qualified for the World Cup, while New Caledonia will compete in the interconfederation playoffs.
Interconfederation Playoffs (2 spots)
These playoffs will occur in March 2026 and determine the last two qualifiers.
Six nations will participate, with each confederation (excluding UEFA) contributing one country, while the host confederation (Concacaf) will receive a second slot.
1 from Africa, 1 from Asia, 2 from Concacaf, 1 from Oceania (New Caledonia), and 1 from South America (Bolivia).
The two highest-ranked teams will be seeded and directly enter one of the two finals.
The other four teams will be matched up for a semifinal, ultimately leading to a qualifier for the World Cup.
These playoffs are planned to take place in one of the World Cup host nations as a test event.