2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Last updated

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification logo.png
Tournament details
Dates7 September 2023 – 31 March 2026
Teams206 (from 6 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played580
Goals scored1,581 (2.73 per match)
Attendance10,542,720 (18,177 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Qatar.svg Almoez Ali (12 goals)
2022
2030
All statistics correct as of 10 June 2025.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will decide the 45 teams that will join hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Contents

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.

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. [2] [3]

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. [4]

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.

Qualified teams

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Teams qualified
Teams whose qualification status has yet to be decided
Teams failed to qualify
Teams withdrew or suspended
Not a FIFA member 2026 world cup qualification map.svg
  Teams qualified
  Teams whose qualification status has yet to be decided
  Teams failed to qualify
  Teams withdrew or suspended
  Not a FIFA member

Notes

  1. 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. [5]

Qualification process

On 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation scheme for the new 48-team final format. [4]

Summary of qualification

World Map FIFA2.svg
ConfederationDirect slotsPlay-off slotsTeams startedTeams eliminatedTeams can still qualifyTeams qualifiedQualifying start dateQualifying next match dateQualifying end date
AFC 8146346612 October 20238 October 202518 November 2025
CAF 9153449015 November 20233 September 2025November 2025
CONCACAF 3+3 (hosts)232+3 (hosts)20120+322 March 20244 September 202518 November 2025
CONMEBOL 61101637 September 20234 September 20259 September 2025
OFC 11119116 September 202424 March 2025
UEFA 16054054021 March 20254 September 202531 March 2026
Play-offs 2(6)0(6)0March 2026March 2026March 2026
Total45+3 (hosts)6206+3 (hosts)6812810+37 September 20233 September 202531 March 2026

    Suspensions and withdrawals

    Russia were suspended indefinitely on 28 February 2022 from participating in UEFA and FIFA competitions due to the country's invasion of Ukraine. [6] A circular distributed by UEFA on 11 November 2024 stated 192 group stage matches would take place, confirming Russia's exclusion from the tournament. [7]

    Eritrea withdrew from qualification prior to playing any matches, due to concerns that players would seek political asylum if allowed to travel overseas. [8] [9]

    Congo were suspended on 6 February 2025 due to government interference in Congolese Football Federation operations. [10] [11] No announcement regarding their status was immediately available, and CAF initially cancelled their remaining matches. [12] However, Tanzania and Zambia were later awarded 3–0 victories by forfeit. [13] The suspension was lifted by FIFA on 14 May 2025. [14]

    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): [15]

    Tiebreakers

    In the round-robin and tournament formats, the tiebreaker criteria are as follows (Regulations Article 11.5): [15]

    1. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss)
    2. Greatest goal differential in all group matches
    3. 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:

    1. Greatest number of points obtained in all matches amongst the concerned teams
    2. Greatest goal differential in all matches amongst the concerned teams
    3. Most goals scored in all matches amongst the concerned teams
    4. Most goals scored away from home in all matches amongst the concerned teams
    5. The best team conduct score using the following table:
      1. First yellow card: –1 point
      2. Second yellow card/indirect red card: –3 points
      3. Direct red card: –4 points
      4. 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).
    6. 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). [15]

    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). [15] 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). [15]

    Confederation qualification

    AFC

    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. [16] The draw for the first round was held on 27 July 2023 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [17] The draw for the second round took place two hours later.

    The qualification structure is as follows:

    Sri Lanka were suspended in January 2023 [19] and they did not appear in the draw information the AFC released in early July. [20] However, they were re-added with the condition that their federation hold elections at least ten days before qualification starts. [21]

    Most recent stage (third round)

    Legend
      Qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
      Advance to the fourth round

    Group A
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 1023
    2Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 1021
    3Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 1015
    4Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 1013
    5Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 108
    6Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 103
    Source: AFC, FIFA

    Group B
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 1022
    2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 1016
    3Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 1015
    4Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 1011
    5Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 1010
    6Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 105
    Source: AFC, FIFA

    Group C
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1023
    2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1019
    3Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1013
    4Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 1012
    5Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 109
    6Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 106
    Source: AFC, FIFA

    Next stage (fourth round)

    Legend
      Qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
      Advance to the fifth round

    Group A
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar (H)00
    2Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 00
    3Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 00
    First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025.
    Source: AFC
    (H) Hosts

    Group B
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (H)00
    2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 00
    3Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 00
    First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025.
    Source: AFC
    (H) Hosts

    CAF

    The CAF Executive Committee announced a new African qualification format on 19 May 2023. [22] [23]

    The draw was held on 13 July 2023 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. [24] [25] All 54 FIFA-affiliated football associations from CAF entered qualification. However, Eritrea withdrew before matches began. [26] Congo were suspended on 6 February 2025 due to government interference and their remaining matches were cancelled before their suspension was reversed allowing them to play their matches in September and October. No announcement has yet been made on how Eritrea's withdrawal will affect the ranking of second-placed teams.

    The qualification structure is as follows:

    Current stage (first round)

    Group tables legend
      Qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
      Possibly advance to the second round
      Team withdrew
    Group A
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 616
    2Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 611
    3Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 68
    4Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 66
    5Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 66
    6Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti (Z)61
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (Z) Cannot qualify directly; can still advance to the second round
    Group B
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 613
    2Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 612
    3Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 612
    4Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 64
    5Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 63
    6Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania (Z)62
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (Z) Cannot qualify directly; can still advance to the second round
    Group C
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 613
    2Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 68
    3Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 68
    4Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 67
    5Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 66
    6Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 64
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    Group D
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 613
    2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 612
    3Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 68
    4Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 67
    5Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 65
    6Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 62
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    Group E
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 515
    2Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 59
    3Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 56
    4Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 46
    5Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo (E)50
    6Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea 00
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (E) Eliminated
    Group F
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 616
    2Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 615
    3Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 610
    4Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 66
    5Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia (Z)64
    6Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles (E)60
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (E) Eliminated;
    (Z) Cannot qualify directly; can still advance to the second round
    Group G
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 615
    2Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 612
    3Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 69
    4Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 69
    5Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 67
    6Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia (Z)61
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (Z) Cannot qualify directly; can still advance to the second round
    Group H
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 616
    2Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 612
    3Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 610
    4Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 67
    5Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 66
    6Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe (E)60
    Updated to match(es) played on 24 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (E) Eliminated
    Group I
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 615
    2Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 612
    3Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 610
    4Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 69
    5Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 65
    6Flag of Chad.svg  Chad (E)60
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (E) Eliminated

    Neither CAF nor FIFA have made an official announcement on how Eritrea's withdrawal will affect the rankings of the group runners-up.

    Runners-up table legend
      Advance to the second round
    Ranking of runners-up
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 615
    2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 612
    3Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 612
    4Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 612
    5Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 612
    6Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 612
    7Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 611
    8Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 59
    9Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 68
    Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025.
    Source: FIFA

    CONCACAF

    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. [27]

    Current stage (third round)

    Legend
      Qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
      Possibly advance to the inter-confederation play-offs

    Group A
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 00
    2Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 00
    3Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 00
    4Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 00
    First match(es) will be played: 4 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA

    Group B
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 00
    2Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 00
    3Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 00
    4Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 00
    First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA

    Group C
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 00
    2Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras 00
    3Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 00
    4Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 00
    First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    Runners-up table legend
      Advance to the inter-confederation play-offs

    Ranking of runners-up
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 00
    2Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 00
    3Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras 00
    First match(es) will be played: 4 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA

    CONMEBOL

    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-away round-robin matches against each other. [28] [29] [30] [31] This was approved, with the first games of the qualifiers played in September 2023. [32]

    Before the qualification competition began, Ecuador were penalized 3 points for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle. [33]

    Current stage

    Legend
      Qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
      Advance to the inter-confederation play-offs
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina (Q)1635
    2Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador (Q)1625
    3Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil (Q)1625
    4Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay (X)1624
    5Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay (X)1624
    6Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1622
    7Flag of Venezuela (state).svg  Venezuela 1618
    8Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 1617
    9Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru (Y)1612
    10Flag of Chile.svg  Chile (E)1610
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2025.
    Source: FIFA
    (E) Eliminated;
    (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated;
    (X) Assured of at least inter-confederation play-offs;
    (Y) Cannot qualify directly, may only advance to inter-confederation play-offs

    OFC

    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.

    The qualification structure is as follows: [34]

    Final positions (third round)

     
    Semi-finals Final
     
          
     
    21 March 2025 – Wellington
     
     
    New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 3
     
    24 March 2025 – Auckland
     
    Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 0
     
    New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 0
     
    21 March 2025 – Wellington
     
    Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3
     
    Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 7
     
     
    Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 0
     

    UEFA

    The UEFA Executive Committee announced a new European qualification format on 25 January 2023. Teams will be 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, [35] for a total of 16 teams qualifying for the finals.

    The qualification draw took place on 13 December 2024 in Zürich, Switzerland. [36] 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. [37]

    Current stage (first round)

    Legend
      Qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
      Advance to the second round
    Group A
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany (X)00
    2Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 00
    3Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 00
    4Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 00
    First match(es) will be played: 4 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    (X) Assured of a play-off spot based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly
    Group B
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 00
    2Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 00
    3Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 00
    4Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 00
    First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    Group C
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 00
    2Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 00
    3Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 00
    4Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 00
    First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    Group D
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of France.svg  France (X)00
    2Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 00
    3Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 00
    4Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 00
    First match(es) will be played: 5 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    (X) Assured of a play-off spot based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly
    Group E
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain (X)00
    2Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 00
    3Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 00
    4Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 00
    First match(es) will be played: 4 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    (X) Assured of a play-off spot based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly
    Group F
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal (X)00
    2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 00
    3Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 00
    4Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 00
    First match(es) will be played: 6 September 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    (X) Assured of a play-off spot based on Nations League ranking; may still qualify directly
    Group G
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 47
    2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 26
    3Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 36
    4Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 32
    5Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 41
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    Group H
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 39
    2Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 26
    3Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 46
    4Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 33
    5Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 40
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    Group I
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 412
    2Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 36
    3Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 23
    4Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 43
    5Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 30
    Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    Group J
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 48
    2Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 47
    3Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 24
    4Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 33
    5Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 30
    Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    Group K
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of England.svg  England 39
    2Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 45
    3Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 24
    4Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 34
    5Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 40
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA
    Group L
    PosTeamPldPts
    1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 49
    2Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 26
    3Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 36
    4Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 33
    5Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 40
    Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2025.
    Source: FIFA, UEFA

    Inter-confederation play-offs

    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 as a test event in one or more of the host nations. [2]

    Bracket

    Semi-finalFinal
          
    March 2026 – TBC
    Seeded team
    March 2026 – TBC
    Winner of semi-final
    Unseeded team
    Unseeded team
    Semi-finalFinal
          
    March 2026 – TBC
    Seeded team
    March 2026 – TBC
    Winner of semi-final
    Unseeded team
    Unseeded team

    Top goalscorers

    There have been 1,581 goals scored in 580 matches, for an average of 2.73 goals per match (as of 10 June 2025). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.

    12 goals

    10 goals

    9 goals

    8 goals

    7 goals

    6 goals

    Below are goalscorer lists for all confederations:

    See also

    References

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