Qualification began on 7 September 2023 with three matches of the CONMEBOL zone played that day.[1] The first goal of the qualification series was scored by Colombian player Rafael Santos Borré against Venezuela.[2][3]
Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all qualified for the first time, while Qatar had their first successful qualifying campaign after making their debut in the previous edition as hosts.[4][5]
Slot allocation
On 30 March 2017, the Bureau of the FIFA Council (composed of the FIFA president and the presidents of each of the six confederations) proposed a slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The recommendation was submitted for the ratification by the FIFA Council.[6][7]
On 9 May 2017, two days before the 67th FIFA Congress, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation in a meeting in Manama, Bahrain. This includes an intercontinental play-off tournament involving six teams to decide the last two FIFA World Cup spots.[8]
The ratification of slot allocation also gives the OFC a guaranteed berth in the final tournament for the first time in FIFA World Cup history; as such, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first tournament in which all six confederations have at least one guaranteed berth.
1 2 3 Although the United bid was selected on 13 June 2018, the automatic berths allocated to the hosts were not confirmed until a decision by the FIFA Council on 14 February 2023.[9]
↑ Until 1991, Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union, which competed at seven World Cup tournaments. FIFA considers Russia to be the successor team of the Soviet Union.
↑ The 1934 World Cup was a straight knockout tournament between 16 teams and did not feature a group stage.
Qualification process
On 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation scheme for the new 48-team final format.[8]
Russia were suspended indefinitely on 28 February 2022 from participating in UEFA and FIFA competitions due to the country's invasion of Ukraine.[10] A circular distributed by UEFA on 11 November 2024 stated 192 group stage matches would take place, confirming Russia's exclusion from the tournament.[11]
Sri Lanka were suspended in January 2023[12] and they did not appear in the draw information the AFC released in early July.[13] However, they were re-added with the condition that their federation would hold elections at least ten days before qualification would begin.[14]
Eritrea withdrew from qualification on 10 November 2023, prior to playing any matches, due to concerns that players would seek political asylum if allowed to travel overseas.[15][16]
Congo were suspended on 6 February 2025 due to government interference in Congolese Football Federation operations.[17][18] No announcement regarding their status was immediately available, and CAF initially cancelled their remaining matches.[19] The suspension was lifted by FIFA on 14 May 2025,[20] and Tanzania and Zambia were awarded 3–0 victories by forfeit.[21]
Format
Each confederation is responsible for its own qualification tournament, which will consist of at least one round of competition using the following formats (Regulations Article 11.3):[22]
A double round-robin (or "league") format in which each team in a group plays all other teams in their group twice – once at home and once away.
A single round-robin format in which each team in a group plays all other teams in their group once, with the venues either drawn at random or assigned by the confederation with the agreement of the playing associations.
A knockout format in which each team in a round plays one other team over two legs – once at home and once away.
With FIFA's permission, a tournament held in one of the participating nations or in neutral territory.
With FIFA's permission, a single-leg knockout format.
Tiebreakers
In the round-robin and tournament formats, the tiebreaker criteria are as follows (Regulations Article 11.5):[22]
Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss)
Greatest goal differential in all group matches
Most goals scored in all group matches
Should two or more teams still have equal rank after criteria 1–3 are applied, then the following criteria are used:
Greatest number of points obtained in all matches amongst the concerned teams
Greatest goal differential in all matches amongst the concerned teams
Most goals scored in all matches amongst the concerned teams
Most goals scored away from home in all matches amongst the concerned teams
The best team conduct score using the following table:
First yellow card: –1 point
Second yellow card/indirect red card: –3 points
Direct red card: –4 points
Yellow card and direct red card: –5 points
Only one score will be applied to any player or team official in any match, e.g. a player who receives a second yellow card will only have –3 points applied and not –4 (–1 for the first and –3 for the second).
Drawing of lots by FIFA
If the tournament is being held in a single host nation or in neutral territory, then criterion 7 will not be applied (Regulations Article 11.6).[22]
In the home-and-away knockout format, the team scoring more goals on aggregate wins the tie and advances. If the aggregate score is level, then 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, the away goals rule will not be applied and the winners will be decided by a penalty shoot-out (Regulations Article 11.9).[22] In the single-leg knockout format, the team scoring more goals in a single match wins and advances. If the teams are tied after regulation, then extra time will be played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if the score is still level (Regulations Article 11.10).[22]
On 1 August 2022, the Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee approved the qualification format for Asia's road to the 2026 World Cup, as well as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, in preparation for the eight direct spots and the single intercontinental play-off slot allocated to the AFC by FIFA following the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams.[23] The draw for the first round was held on 27 July 2023 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[24] The draw for the second round took place two hours later.
The qualification structure is as follows:
First round: Twenty teams (ranked 27–46) played home-and-away over two legs.[25] The ten winners advanced to the second round.
Second round: Thirty-six teams (those ranked 1–26 and the ten first-round winners) were divided into nine groups of four teams to play home-and-awayround-robin matches. The eighteen group winners and group runners-up advanced to the third round.
Third round: The eighteen teams that advanced from the second round were divided into three groups of six teams to play home-and-awayround-robin matches. The top two teams of each group qualified for the World Cup, while the third-placed and fourth-placed teams of each group advanced to the fourth round.
Fourth round: The six teams that advanced from the third round were drawn into two groups of three teams each to play a single round-robin. The winners qualified for the World Cup, and the runners-up advanced to the fifth round.
Fifth round: The fourth round group runners-up will compete in a two-leggedplay-off tie to determine the Asian representation at the inter-confederationplay-offs.
The CAF Executive Committee announced a new African qualification format on 19 May 2023.[26][27] The draw was held on 13 July 2023 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[28][29] All 54 FIFA-affiliated football associations from CAF entered qualification. Eritrea withdrew before matches began.[30]
The qualification structure is as follows:
First round: Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The winner of each group qualified for the World Cup.
Second round: The four best-ranked group runners-up will participate in a play-off to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Due to Eritrea's withdrawal from qualification resulting in groups not being equal in numbers, results from matches against sixth-place teams are discounted when ranking group runners-up.[31]
The teams were allocated into semi-finals based on their FIFA Men's World Ranking of 17 October 2025, with the highest-ranked side taking on the lowest and the second-highest taking on the third-highest.[32][33][34]
Three nations in CONCACAF—Canada, Mexico and the United States—automatically qualified as host nations. On 28 February 2023, CONCACAF announced the qualifying format for 2026 World Cup qualification.[35]
First round: Four CONCACAF teams, ranked 29 to 32 based on the FIFA ranking of December 2023, were divided into two matchups to be played on a two-leggedhome-and-away basis. The two winners advanced to the second round.
Second round: Thirty teams – the two winners from the first round and CONCACAF teams ranked 1 to 28 based on the FIFA ranking of December 2023 – were drawn into six groups of five teams. They played single round-robin matches (two home and two away), with group winners and runners-up advancing to the third round.
Third round: The twelve teams that advanced from the second round were drawn into three groups of four teams. They will play double round-robin home-and-away matches, with the three group winners qualifying for the World Cup. The two best-rankedrunners-up will advance to the inter-confederationplay-offs.
On 22 August 2022, CONMEBOL petitioned FIFA to keep the qualification format which had been used since the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, where all CONMEBOL members play home-and-awayround-robin matches against each other.[36][37][38][39] This was approved, with the first games of the qualifiers played in September 2023.[40]
Before the qualification competition began, Ecuador were penalized 3 points for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[41]
2026 marks the first time OFC will be granted one guaranteed slot in the World Cup, as well as a possible second slot via the inter-confederation play-offs.
First round: The four lowest-ranked teams played a three-match knockout round in September 2024. The winner, Samoa, advanced to the second round.
Second round: The winning team from the first round joined the seven highest-ranked teams in two four-team groups in October and November 2024. The top two teams from each group advanced to the third round.
Third round: The four teams advancing from the second round played a three-match knockout round in March 2025. The winner, New Zealand, qualified for the World Cup and the runner-up, New Caledonia, advanced to the inter-confederationplay-offs.
The UEFA Executive Committee announced a new European qualification format on 25 January 2023. Teams were drawn into twelve groups of four or five teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches from March to November 2025. The group winners will qualify for the World Cup, while the runners-up will participate in play-off matches,[43] for a total of 16 teams qualifying for the finals.
The qualification draw took place on 13 December 2024 in Zürich, Switzerland.[44] Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia's national team is currently suspended, and their exclusion was confirmed in a circular distributed by UEFA on 11 November 2024.[45]
First round (group stage): Twelve groups of either four or five teams were drawn, with group winners qualifying for the World Cup.
Second round (play-off): Sixteen teams (twelve group runners-up and four best Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League overall ranking, that finish outside the top two of their qualifying group) will be drawn into four play-off paths, playing two rounds of single-matchplay-offs (semi-finals with the seeded teams to host, followed by finals, with the home teams to be drawn). The four path winners will qualify for the World Cup.[46]
Updated to match(es) played on 13 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (X) Assured of a play-off berth based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly
Updated to match(es) played on 13 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (T) Assured of at least a play-off berth; may still qualify directly; (Y) Cannot qualify directly but may be able to qualify for a play-off berth
Updated to match(es) played on 12 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (T) Assured of at least a play-off berth; may still qualify directly
Updated to match(es) played on 13 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (X) Assured of a play-off berth based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly; (Y) Cannot qualify directly but may be able to qualify for a play-off berth
Updated to match(es) played on 14 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (T) Assured of at least a play-off berth; may still qualify directly; (Y) Cannot qualify directly but may be able to qualify for a play-off berth
Updated to match(es) played on 14 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (T) Assured of at least a play-off berth; may still qualify directly; (Y) Cannot qualify directly but may be able to qualify for a play-off berth
Updated to match(es) played on 12 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (T) Assured of at least a play-off berth; may still qualify directly; (Y) Cannot qualify directly but may be able to qualify for a play-off berth
Updated to match(es) played on 12 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (Z) Cannot qualify via group position but may still qualify for a play-off berth based on Nations League ranking
Updated to match(es) played on 14 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (T) Assured of at least a play-off berth; may still qualify directly; (Z) Cannot qualify via group position but may still qualify for a play-off berth based on Nations League ranking
Updated to match(es) played on 13 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (X) Assured of a play-off berth based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly
Updated to match(es) played on 14 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly but may be able to qualify for a play-off berth
Updated to match(es) played on 12 October 2025. Source: FIFA, UEFA (E) Eliminated; (T) Assured of at least a play-off berth; may still qualify directly; (X) Assured of a play-off berth based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly; (Y) Cannot qualify directly but may be able to qualify for a play-off berth
A play-off tournament involving six teams – one each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC and two from CONCACAF – will be held to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths. The bottom four teams in the FIFA World Rankings will be drawn into two single-elimination matches. The winners of those matches will advance to play the top two teams in two single-elimination matches, and the winners will qualify for the World Cup. The play-offs will be held in March 2026 in North America,[47] reportedly at two venues in Mexico.[48][49]
Bracket
Semi-final
Final
March 2026 – TBC
Seeded team
March 2026 – TBC
Winner of semi-final
Unseeded team
Unseeded team
Semi-final
Final
March 2026 – TBC
Seeded team
March 2026 – TBC
Winner of semi-final
Unseeded team
Unseeded team
Top goalscorers
There have been 2,265 goals scored in 818 matches, for an average of 2.77 goals per match(as of 14 October 2025). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
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Erling Haaland 
Almoez Ali 
