2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)

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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
Tournament details
Dates22 March 2024 – November 2025
Teams32 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played33
Goals scored115 (3.48 per match)
Attendance108,954 (3,302 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Curacao.svg Rangelo Janga
Flag of Jamaica.svg Shamar Nicholson
(3 goals each)
← 2022
2030→
All statistics correct as of 11 June 2024.

The North, Central American and Caribbean section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, for national teams which are members of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Three direct slots and two inter-confederation play-off slots in the final tournament were available for CONCACAF teams.

Contents

Format

On 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which included six direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off spots for the CONCACAF region. However, in a change of format from previous World Cups, there would be no dedicated host country slot, with the slots of automatically qualifying host countries now taken from the quota of its confederation. If the tournament were to be co-hosted, the FIFA Council would decide which host countries would qualify automatically. [1] On 13 June 2018, three members of CONCACAF—Canada, Mexico and the United States—were selected as hosts for the 2026 World Cup by the 68th FIFA Congress. [2]

On 14 February 2023, the FIFA Council awarded automatic berths for all three host countries, leaving three direct slots and two inter-confederation play-off slots to be decided through CONCACAF qualification. [3] On 28 February, CONCACAF announced the qualifying format for 2026 World Cup qualification. [4]

Entrants

As Canada, Mexico and the United States were awarded automatic berths as co-hosts, they did not enter qualifying. The remaining 32 FIFA-affiliated national teams from CONCACAF entered qualification. Based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, the top 28 teams received a bye to the second round, while the lowest four teams entered the first round. [5]

From the December 2023 FIFA World Rankings [6]
Second round pot 1Second round pot 2Second round pot 3
  1. Flag of Panama.svg  Panama (41)
  2. Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica (52)
  3. Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica (55)
  4. Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras (76)
  5. Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador (78)
  6. Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti (89)
  1. Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao (90)
  2. Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago (96)
  3. Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala (108)
  4. Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua (134)
  5. Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda (142)
  6. Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname (143)
  1. Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis (147)
  2. Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic (151)
  3. Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana (157)
  4. Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico (160)
  5. Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia (167)
  6. Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba (169)
Second round pot 4Second round pot 5Competing in first round
  1. Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda (171)
  2. Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (173)
  3. Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada (174)
  4. Flag of Montserrat.svg  Montserrat (176)
  5. Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados (178)
  6. Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica (180)
  1. Flag of Belize.svg  Belize (182)
  2. Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba (193)
  3. Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands (197)
  4. Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas (202)

Schedule

The CONCACAF schedule for qualification is as follows. [4]

RoundMatchdayDates [7]
First round First leg22 March 2024
Second leg26 March 2024
Second round Window 15–11 June 2024
Window 24–10 June 2025
Third round Matchday 11–9 September 2025
Matchday 2
Matchday 36–14 October 2025
Matchday 4
Matchday 510–18 November 2025
Matchday 6

First round

The bottom four CONCACAF teams, ranked 29 to 32 based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, were divided into two matchups to be played on a two-legged home-and-away basis. The pairings were predetermined, with the 29th ranked team facing the 32nd ranked team, and the 30th ranked team facing the 31st ranked team. The two winners advanced to the second round. [4]

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Anguilla  Flag of Anguilla.svg1–1 (4–3 p)Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg  Turks and Caicos Islands 0–0 1–1 (a.e.t.)
U.S. Virgin Islands  Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg1–1 (2–4 p)Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands 1–1 0–0 (a.e.t.)

Second round

The draw took place on 25 January 2024 in Zürich, Switzerland. [8]

The top twenty-eight CONCACAF teams in the FIFA rankings of December 2023 entered in the second round, joined by the two winners of the first round. Teams were drawn into six groups of five teams, and will play single round-robin matches (two home and two away). The six group winners and six group runners-up will advance to the third round. [4]

Group A

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Honduras.svg Flag of Cuba.svg Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Flag of Bermuda.svg
1Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras 220092+76Advance to third round — 3–1 — 10 Jun —
2Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 210143+13—— 3–0 [a] — 10 Jun
3Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands 210113−23 7 Jun —— 1–0 —
4Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda 201112−11— 6 Jun —— 1–1
5Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 201127−51 1–6 — 4 Jun ——
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ↑ Cuba were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit after Cayman Islands were unable to travel to Cuba due to visa issues stemming from the United States government's policy on travel to Cuba. [9]

Group B

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Costa Rica.svg Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg Flag of Grenada.svg Flag of the Bahamas.svg
1Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 220070+76Advance to third round — 10 Jun 4–0 ——
2Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 211093+64—— 6 Jun 2–2 —
3Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis 210114−33——— 10 Jun 1–0
4Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada 201125−31 0–3 ——— 4 Jun
5Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 200218−70 7 Jun 1–7 ———
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Curacao.svg Flag of Haiti.svg Flag of Saint Lucia.svg Flag of Aruba.svg Flag of Barbados.svg
1Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 220061+56Advance to third round —— 6 Jun — 4–1
2Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 220052+36 10 Jun — 2–1 ——
3Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia 201134−11——— 2–2 10 Jun
4Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba 201124−21 0–2 7 Jun ———
5Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 200227−50— 1–3 — 4 Jun —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Nicaragua.svg Flag of Panama.svg Flag of Guyana.svg Flag of Montserrat.svg Flag of Belize.svg
1Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 220081+76Advance to third round —— 6 Jun 4–1 —
2Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 220051+46 10 Jun — 2–0 ——
3Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 21013303——— 10 Jun 3–1
4Flag of Montserrat.svg  Montserrat 200227−50— 1–3 —— 4 Jun
5Flag of Belize.svg  Belize 200217−60 0–4 7 Jun ———
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group E

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Guatemala.svg Flag of Jamaica.svg Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Flag of Dominica.svg Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg
1Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 220090+96Advance to third round —— 6 Jun 6–0 —
2Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 220042+26 10 Jun — 1–0 ——
3Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 210141+33——— 10 Jun 4–0
4Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica 200229−70— 2–3 —— 4 Jun
5Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands 200207−70 0–3 7 Jun ———
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Suriname.svg Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Flag of El Salvador.svg Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Flag of Anguilla.svg
1Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 220081+76Advance to third round — 6 Jun — 4–1 —
2Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 211080+84——— 10 Jun 8–0
3Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 211031+24 10 Jun 0–0 ———
4Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 200227−50—— 1–3 — 4 Jun
5Flag of Anguilla.svg  Anguilla 2002012−120 0–4 — 7 Jun ——
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Third round

In the third round, the twelve teams advancing from the second round will be 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-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs. [4]

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1A100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2A200000000Possible inter-confederation play-offs based on ranking
3A300000000
4A400000000
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1B100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2B200000000Possible inter-confederation play-offs based on ranking
3B300000000
4B400000000
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1C100000000 2026 FIFA World Cup
2C200000000Possible inter-confederation play-offs based on ranking
3C300000000
4C400000000
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Ranking of second-placed teams

PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 A Second place Group A00000000Advance to inter-confederation play-offs
2 B Second place Group B00000000
3 C Second place Group C00000000
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Inter-confederation play-offs

The best two runners-up from the third round will join one team each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [10]

Qualified teams

The following teams from CONCACAF qualified for the final tournament.

TeamQualified asQualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA World Cup [a]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Co-hosts14 February 2023 [b] 2 (1986, 2022)
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Co-hosts14 February 2023 [b] 17 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 , 1978, 1986 , 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Co-hosts14 February 2023 [b] 11 (1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994 , 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022)
TBDThird round Group A winners2025
TBDThird round Group B winners2025
TBDThird round Group C winners2025

Notes

  1. ↑ Italic indicates hosts for that year.
  2. 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. [3]

Top goalscorers

There have been 115 goals scored in 33 matches, for an average of 3.48 goals per match (as of 11 June 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.

3 goals

2 goals

Below are full goalscorer lists for each round:

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References

  1. ↑ "FIFA Council prepares Congress, takes key decisions for the future of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Graham, Bryan Armen (13 June 2018). "North America to host 2026 World Cup after winning vote over Morocco – as it happened". The Guardian.
  3. 1 2 "FIFA Council highlights record breaking revenue in football". FIFA. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "CONCACAF announces formats for men's national team competitions for the 2023–2026 cycle". CONCACAF. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Draw Procedures for the CONCACAF Preliminary Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26" (PDF). FIFA. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking – December 2023". FIFA. 21 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Men's International Match Calendar 2023–2030" (PDF). FIFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Draw reveals groups for second round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers". CONCACAF. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Cayman forfeits Cuba game after first match win in WC". Cayman News. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
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