Qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup began on Oct. 12, 2023, when countries from the Asian confederation played their first round of matches. Myanmar’s Lwin Moe Aung scored the very first goal in a 5-1 win over Macau.
All confederations are drawing to a close, but we’re still a long way from discovering the full list of 45 nations that will join hosts United States, Mexico and Canada to make up the field of 48.
Japan were the very first country to qualify on March 20.
QUALIFIED (17/45): Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria
What can be decided in October?
Europe and Concacaf: Qualifying doesn’t end until November, but we could see the first few countries book their places.
Africa: The final two rounds of the group stage take place in October, when we will discover the seven nations that will join Morocco and Tunisia, plus the interconfederation playoff contenders.
Asia: The fourth round is played in October, when we will find out the final two automatic qualifiers, along with the two interconfederation playoff contenders.
South America and Oceania: Qualification complete.
There were 54 FIFA-affiliated nations in the draw. However, Eritrea subsequently withdrew.
Round 1: The teams are in eight groups of six nations, and one group of five (with Eritrea removed).
The nine group winners qualify for the World Cup.
This stage began in November 2023 and will be completed with two rounds to be played in October.
How teams can qualify as the group stage ends this week
NB: To determine the best second-place teams, the results of the team to finish sixth in the six-team groups are removed.
Group A: EGYPT (23) qualified with a 3-0 win over rock-bottom Djibouti (1) on Wednesday, on the back of two goals from Mohamed Salah. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso (18) sealed second place in the group with a 1-0 victory vs. Sierra Leone (12) but must wait to see if they go onto round two.
Group B: Qualification is in Senegal’s (18) hands ahead of favorable fixtures in South Sudan (4) on Friday and at home to Mauritania (6) on Tuesday, and two wins will guarantee a place in the finals. DR Congo (16) must travel to Togo (7) and host Sudan (12) and hope Senegal slip up. Sudan must win both games (vs. Mauritania and DR Congo) to have a chance at second, but their hopes will be over if DR Congo beat Togo on Friday. Senegal will qualify on Matchday 9 with a win over South Sudan if DR Congo fail to beat Togo.
Group C: The group has been blown wide open after South Africa (14, +3) saw their 2-0 victory over Lesotho (9) become a 3-0 defeat because they fielded an ineligible player. The punishment dropped South Africa into second place behind Benin (14, +4) on goal difference — and now any one of four nations could still win the group. On Friday, it’s Rwanda (11) vs. Benin and Zimbabwe (1) vs. South Africa. Nigeria (11) cannot be ruled out, playing away in Lesotho on Friday before hosting Benin on Tuesday. On the final day it’s also South Africa vs. Rwanda, meaning the top two places are completely up for grabs. No team can qualify on Matchday 9.
Group D: Cape Verde Islands (20) missed the chance to book their place when they fought back for a 3-3 draw in Libya (15) on Wednesday. But Cape Verde have another opportunity to secure a debut World Cup appearance by winning at home to Eswatini (3) on Monday (it will also be confirmed regardless if Cameroon draw or lose). If Cape Verde do not win, they would be overtaken by Cameroon (18) if they were to beat Angola (11). While Libya have a mathematical chance of finishing second (if Cameroon lose and Libya win in Mauritius), Libya’s goal difference is 10 worse so, in reality, their opportunity has gone. Cameroon have the best record of the second-placed teams.
Group E: MOROCCO (21) have qualified. Niger (12) hold second place, three points ahead of Zambia (9); the two teams meet in Zambia on Sunday — Niger need a point to claim second, Zambia must get a victory. However, Niger may need to play to win to have enough points to be one of the best runners-up.
Group F: Ivory Coast (20) will qualify if they beat the bottom two in October: They are in Seychelles (0) on Friday and at home to Kenya (12) on Tuesday. Any shock slipup opens the door for Gabon (19), who take on a trip to Gambia (10) and host Burundi (10). Ivory Coast will qualify on Matchday 9 if they win in Seychelles and Gabon, who are guaranteed to finish no lower than second, lose to Gambia.
Group G: ALGERIA (22) qualified with a 3-0 win over Somalia (1) on Thursday. The race for second has been all but sealed too, as Mozambique (15, -4) losing 2-1 to Guinea means they need a win and a goal-difference swing of 10 to overtake Uganda (18, +6). On Tuesday, it’s Somalia vs. Mozambique and Algeria vs. Uganda — so, Uganda do have a tough game, and Mozambique play a team who have conceded 19 goals, but it’s still highly improbable. However, as it stands Uganda are outside the top four runners-up, so need a positive result in Algeria to increase their points.
Group H: TUNISIA (22) have qualified. It’s now a battle for second, which was blown wide open by Liberia (14) beating Namibia (15) 3-1 on Thursday. Namibia remain in the box seat, but have to travel to Tunisia on Monday needing a win to be certain of second. However, as it stands Namibia have the worst record of all second-placed teams. If Namibia draw or lose, Liberia will move into second place with a victory in Equatorial Guinea (10). Technically, Malawi and Equatorial Guinea can still qualify as they didn’t play each other on Thursday. Equatorial Guinea failed to fly due to “travel complications,” and if Malawi are handed a default win they can still make second with a victory over São Tomé and Príncipe if Namibia lose and Liberia draw or lose.
Group I: Ghana (22) are in the box seat for qualification after a 5-0 win on Wednesday in Central African Republic (5). Madagascar (19) are three points behind after defeating Comoros 2-1, and are well positioned to be one the best second-placed teams. Ghana need a point at home to Comoros on Sunday, though they are pretty much there as their goal difference is eight better than that of Madagascar.
Current ranking 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)
– Check out the latest fixtures and results here | Latest tables
Round 2: The four best runners-up will enter playoffs (two semifinals and a final) to decide which one country will go to the interconfederation playoffs. This stage will be played in November 2025.
There are 55 European nations, although 54 will compete as Russia remain suspended due to the invasion of Ukraine.
There are 12 groups of four or five teams, playing home and away matches. The group stage qualifying process continues with double-headers in October, and it’s then completed in November.
The 12 group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup, with the 12 runners-up entering the playoff system.
Qualifying began in March 2025 when most of the European teams who were not in UEFA Nations League (UNL) action played their first matches.
What can be decided in October?
The teams that were in the UNL finals only played their first games in September so we’re still a way off from discovering the qualifiers — but a few could come in October.
Group A: Slovakia (6) are top with a 100% record after a shock win over Germany (3). The two teams meet again on the final matchday on Nov. 17. Northern Ireland (3) are also in contention. While Slovakia could mathematically qualify in October, it would require Germany failing to win at home to Luxembourg.
Group B: Switzerland (6) are in a good position having won both games. With two fixtures to play in October, they could be one of the first to qualify. If the Swiss win in Sweden (1) and Slovenia (1), they will punch their ticket if second-placed Kosovo (3) pick up no more than two points from a home game vs. Slovenia and a trip to Sweden.
Group C: Denmark (7) and Scotland (7) have control of the group, and Greece (3) will be out of contention on Sunday if they lose away to the Danes and Scotland win at home to Belarus (0). If that does happen, the group will be set up for a decider between Scotland and Denmark in Glasgow on Nov. 18.
Group D: France (6) have picked up two wins, with Iceland (3) in second. France can qualify in October with victories at home to Azerbaijan (1) and in Iceland, as long as Iceland do not win at home to Ukraine (1), and Ukraine don’t get two victories.
Group E: Spain (6) are top with a 100% record. They play home games against Georgia (3) and Bulgaria (0) in October, and six points will take them to the World Cup if Turkey (3) fail to win in Bulgaria and Georgia vs. Turkey (3) is a draw.
Group F: Portugal (6) have won both matches and are close to qualification. If Portugal win at home to Republic of Ireland (1) and Hungary (1), they will be over the line as long as Armenia fail to get a victory in both Hungary and Ireland.
Group G: Netherlands (13) sit top ahead of Poland (10), with Finland (10) having an outside chance. Poland do still have to host Netherlands on Nov. 14, but their goal difference is 11 worse right now — so the Dutch know they can afford to lose that and as long as they win at home to Finland on Sunday and Lithuania (3) on Nov.17 they’ll still top the group.
Group H: No team can book their place in October but it’s advantage Austria (15) after Bosnia & Herzegovina (13) drew 2-2 in Cyprus (5). Austria have a game in hand, too, so two wins from games against Romania (7) on Sunday, then Bosnia and Cyprus next month, gets them over the line. Romania still have hope of finishing second, as they have played a game fewer, with a trip to Bosnia on Nov. 15.
Group I: Norway (15) are in control ahead of Italy (9) and Israel (9). Norway’s vastly superior goal difference over Italy (+21 vs. +5) means wins at home to Israel in October and Estonia (3) in November should effectively do the job, even if Italy win in Estonia, at home to Israel and away to Moldova (0). On the final day, it’s Italy vs. Norway, so Italy (who have a game in hand) know they must go all out for goals this month.
Group J: A very close group between North Macedonia (11), Belgium (10) and Wales (10) — though Belgium have played a game fewer. In October, it’s Belgium vs. North Macedonia and Wales vs. Belgium, two games which will have a major influence on the final outcome.
Group K: England (15) have dominated the group, winning all five matches without conceding a goal. They have one game in October, away in Latvia (4). They will qualify with a win if Serbia fail to beat either Albania (8) or Andorra (0). A draw cannot see England over the line this month.
Group L: Croatia and Czechia are locked on 13 points and after the game between the teams finished 0-0 on Thursday it’s advantage Croatia, who have a game in hand. Faroe Islands (9) have a chance to get into the battle for second if they can win at home to Czechia on Sunday, while Croatia entertain Gibraltar (0).
– Check out the latest fixtures and results here | Tables
PLAYOFFS
The final four places at the World Cup will be determined via the UEFA playoffs, to be played in March 2026. There is no path to the World Cup through FIFA’s interconfederation playoffs.
The UEFA playoffs involve 16 teams: the 12 group stage runners-up plus the four best-ranked group winners from the UNL, who did not finish in the top two in World Cup qualifying. This creates four routes, each with four teams featuring a one-legged semifinal and a final for a place at the World Cup.
The priority order for the four World Cup playoff places through the UNL is: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Norway, Wales, Czechia, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova, San Marino.
Of the 14 teams to win their UNL groups, 10 of those were in Pot 1 or 2 for the World Cup qualifying draw — so on ranking would finish in the top two of their group. If that comes to pass, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova and San Marino would get a playoff place. However, that now appears unlikely with Romania and Sweden struggling to finish in the top two.
Seeding:
Pot 1: Four World Cup qualifying group runners-up with the best FIFA World Ranking
Pot 2: As above, teams fifth to eighth in the FIFA World Ranking list order
Pot 3: As above, teams ninth to 12th in the FIFA World Ranking list order
Pot 4: UEFA Nations League teams
Semifinals:
Pot 1 vs. Pot 4
Pot 2 vs. Pot 3
Usually, Concacaf would have six automatic places in qualifying — but for the 2026 finals three of the six are taken up by the hosts. That leaves three places to be won, plus two spots in the interconfederation playoff path.
Concacaf saw 32 nations enter the race to make the finals.
Round 1: The four lowest-ranked Concacaf nations battled it out in two-legged ties. Anguilla and British Virgin Islands eliminated Turks and Caicos Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands respectively, both on penalties.
Round 2: The top 28-ranked nations, plus the two winners from Round 1, were drawn into six groups of five teams. Teams played each other only once, rather than home and away. This stage was played in two blocks, in June 2024 and June 2025.
The six group winners and six group runners-up moved on to Round 3.
Advanced: Bermuda, Costa Rica, Curaçao, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
Round 3: The 12 remaining teams were drawn into three groups of four teams.
This phase started in September and will be completed in October and November.
The group winners will qualify for the World Cup, with the two runners-up with the best record going on to take part in the interconfederation playoffs.
– Check out the fixtures and results | Latest tables
What can be decided in October?
Group A: Suriname (4) sit in first place, but it’s a tight group. In October, it’s Suriname vs. Guatemala (1), El Salvador (3) vs. Panama (2); and then Panama vs. Suriname, El Salvador vs Guatemala. The group may look very different heading into November.
Group B: Jamaica (6) are in control of the group ahead of Curaçao (4). Jamaica will qualify in October if they win in Curaçao and at home to Bermuda (0), and Curaçao fail to beat Trinidad and Tobago (1).
Group C: Haiti (5) moved top of the group on Thursday with a 3-0 win in Nicaragua (1), while Honduras (5) and Costa Rica (3) played out a goalless draw. It’s still too close to call, and on Monday it’s Honduras vs. Haiti, the top two facing off, and Costa Rica vs. Nicaragua.
This is by some distance the most complicated route to the World Cup, with a layered qualifying process featuring a dual group stage to find the eight automatic qualifiers. But the main part will be done and dusted in June.
Round 1: The 20 lowest-ranked nations played two-legged ties in October 2023. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and Yemen advanced.
Round 2: Those 10 winners joined the 26 best-ranked nations. The 36 teams were drawn into nine groups of four teams, with the top two nations going through to Round 3. This stage began in November 2023 and was completed in June 2024.
Advanced: 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: We were left with 18 nations, drawn into three groups of six teams. Matches began in September 2024 and the round is completed on Tuesday.
The group winners and runners-up took the first six places at the 2026 World Cup and their campaign is complete.
Japan became the first team to qualify for the World Cup on March 20, followed by Iran, Jordan, South Korea, Uzbekistan and Australia.
– Check out the results | Final tables
Round 4: The six teams in this stage were drawn into two groups of three. They will play each other once, so two matches in total per team, in one host country in October.
What can be decided in October?
We will find out the final two automatic qualifiers, plus the teams that will battle it out for a playoff in Round 5. One game from each group will be played on Saturday and Tuesday.
Group A: Qatar (hosts), United Arab Emirates, Oman
Wednesday: Oman 0-0 Qatar
Saturday: United Arab Emirates vs. Oman
Tuesday: Qatar vs. United Arab Emirates
Group B: Saudi Arabia (hosts), Iraq, Indonesia
Wednesday: Indonesia 2-3 Saudi Arabia
Saturday: Iraq vs. Indonesia
Tuesday: Saudi Arabia vs. Iraq
Round 5: A two-legged tie in November 2025 to earn the place in the interconfederation playoffs.
As in recent qualifying competitions, all 10 nations played each other home and away. The top six nations qualified directly to the finals. The seventh-placed team goes into the interconfederation playoffs in March.
The first qualifiers took place in September 2023, with the league phase completed in September 2025.
Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay qualified automatically.
Bolivia are in the interconfederation playoffs.
– Check out the results | Final table
All 11 members of the OFC region took part. Round 1: The four lowest-ranked nations played a knockout format (two semis and a final) in Samoa in September 2024. American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga were in this round. Samoa beat Tonga 2-1 in the final to advance. Round 2: Samoa and the seven top-ranked nations were drawn into two groups of four nations, with matches played in October and November 2024. Games were held in Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. The top two countries in each group — New Caledonia, Tahiti, New Zealand and Fiji — went on to Round 3. – Check out the results here | Final tables Round 3: The four remaining countries then played a one-legged knockout format (two semis and a final) in New Zealand in March 2025. Semifinals, March 21 Final, March 24 As winners of the final, New Zealand qualified for the World Cup, with losers New Caledonia moving onto the interconfederation playoffs. The playoffs, to be held in March 2026, will determine the final two qualifiers. Six countries will take part. Each of the five confederations (apart from UEFA) will provide one country. The host confederation (so for this edition Concacaf) receives a second slot. 1 Africa The two nations with the best FIFA World Ranking will be seeded and go straight into one of the two finals. The four other countries will be drawn to play a semifinal, feeding through to play a seed for one of the two places at the World Cup. The playoffs are due to be held in one of the World Cup host nations as a test event.
New Caledonia 3-0 Tahiti
New Zealand 7-0 Fiji
New Caledonia 0-3 New Zealand
Interconfederation playoffs (2 places)
1 Asia
2 Concacaf
1 Oceania (New Caledonia)
1 South America (Bolivia)
