2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group J

Last updated

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group J was one of the twelve UEFA groups in the World Cup qualification tournament to decide which teams would qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States. [1] Group J consisted of five teams: Belgium, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia and Wales. The teams played against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format from March to November 2025. However, as Belgium were involved in the Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs in March, they began their qualifying campaign in June 2025.

Contents

The group winners, Belgium, qualified directly for the World Cup finals, while the runners-up, Wales, advanced to the second round (play-offs).

Standings

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Flag of North Macedonia.svg Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Flag of Liechtenstein.svg
1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 8530297+2218Qualification for 2026 FIFA World Cup — 4–3 0–0 6–0 7–0
2Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 85122111+1016Advance to play-offs 2–4 — 7–1 3–1 3–0
3Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 83411310+313Advance to play-offs via Nations League 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 5–0
4Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 8224913−48 1–1 0–1 0–1 — 4–0
5Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 8008031−310 0–6 0–1 0–3 0–2 —
Source: FIFA, UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Matches

The fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 13 December 2024 following the draw. [2] [3] [4] Times are CET/CEST, [note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Liechtenstein  Flag of Liechtenstein.svg0–3Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz
Attendance: 4,094 [5]
Referee: Mykola Balakin (Ukraine)
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg3–1Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 32,473 [6]
Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lithuania)
Liechtenstein  Flag of Liechtenstein.svg0–2Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz
Attendance: 1,123 [7]
Referee: John Beaton (Scotland)
North Macedonia  Flag of North Macedonia.svg1–1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje
Attendance: 23,114 [8]
Referee: Jérôme Brisard (France)
North Macedonia  Flag of North Macedonia.svg1–1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje
Attendance: 23,070 [9]
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (England)
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg3–0Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 30,646 [10]
Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou (Greece)
Kazakhstan  Flag of Kazakhstan.svg0–1Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Astana Arena, Astana
Attendance: 27,694 [11]
Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg4–3Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
Attendance: 33,653 [12]
Referee: Irfan Peljto (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Kazakhstan  Flag of Kazakhstan.svg0–1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Astana Arena, Astana
Attendance: 28,219 [13]
Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Spain)
Liechtenstein  Flag of Liechtenstein.svg0–6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz
Attendance: 3,158 [14]
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)
North Macedonia  Flag of North Macedonia.svg5–0Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje
Attendance: 8,693 [15]
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic (Romania)
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg6–0Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht
Attendance: 15,119 [16]
Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania)
Kazakhstan  Flag of Kazakhstan.svg4–0Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Astana Arena, Astana
Attendance: 26,539 [17]
Referee: Paweł Raczkowski (Poland)
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg0–0Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Planet Group Arena, Ghent
Attendance: 18,583 [18]
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (Turkey)
North Macedonia  Flag of North Macedonia.svg1–1Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje
Attendance: 19,929 [19]
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (Spain)
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg2–4Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 32,803 [20]
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
Kazakhstan  Flag of Kazakhstan.svg1–1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Astana Arena, Astana
Attendance: 28,012 [21]
Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lithuania)
Liechtenstein  Flag of Liechtenstein.svg0–1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz
Attendance: 5,563 [22]
Referee: Juxhin Xhaja (Albania)
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg7–0Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège
Attendance: 26,253 [23]
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg7–1Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 32,154 [24]
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)

Goalscorers

There were 72 goals scored in 20 matches, for an average of 3.6 goals per match.

6 goals

5 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Discipline

A player or team official was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences: [25]

The following suspensions were served during the qualifying matches: [26]

TeamPlayerOffence(s)Suspended for match(es)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Thomas Meunier Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (6 June 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Wales (13 October 2025)		vs Kazakhstan (15 November 2025)
Rudi Garcia (manager)Yellow card.svg vs Wales (9 June 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Wales (13 October 2025)		vs Kazakhstan (15 November 2025)
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Serhiy Malyi Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (9 June 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Wales (4 September 2025)		vs Belgium (7 September 2025)
Maksim Samorodov Yellow card.svg vs Wales (22 March 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Liechtenstein (10 October 2025)		vs North Macedonia (13 October 2025)
Islambek Kuat Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (9 June 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (13 October 2025)		vs Belgium (15 November 2025)
Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov Yellow card.svg vs Liechtenstein (10 October 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (13 October 2025)		vs Belgium (15 November 2025)
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein Felix Oberwaditzer Yellow card.svg vs Kazakhstan (25 March 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (7 September 2025)		vs Kazakhstan (10 October 2025)
Jens Hofer Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (22 March 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Kazakhstan (10 October 2025)		vs Wales (15 November 2025)
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Nikola Serafimov Yellow card.svg vs Liechtenstein (22 March 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Wales (25 March 2025)		vs Belgium (6 June 2025)
Blagoja Milevski (manager)Yellow card.svg vs Wales (25 March 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Belgium (6 June 2025)		vs Kazakhstan (9 June 2025)
Visar Musliu Yellow card.svg vs Belgium (6 June 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Kazakhstan (9 June 2025)		vs Liechtenstein (7 September 2025)
Bojan Ilievski Yellow card.svg vs Belgium (6 June 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Liechtenstein (7 September 2025)		vs Belgium (10 October 2025)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Harry Wilson Yellow card.svg vs Liechtenstein (22 March 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Wales (25 March 2025)		vs Belgium (6 June 2025)
Ethan Ampadu Yellow card.svg vs Belgium (9 June 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Liechtenstein (15 November 2025)		vs North Macedonia (18 November 2025)
Jordan James Yellow card.svg vs North Macedonia (25 March 2025)
Yellow card.svg vs Liechtenstein (15 November 2025)		vs North Macedonia (18 November 2025)

Notes

  1. ↑ CET (UTC+1) for matches until 29 March and from 26 October (matchday 1–2 and 9–10), and CEST (UTC+2) for matches from 30 March to 25 October 2025 (matchday 3–8).

References

  1. ↑ "Draw Procedures for the UEFA Preliminary Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26" (PDF). FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  2. ↑ "European Qualifiers for 2026 World Cup: All the fixtures and results". UEFA. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  3. ↑ "European Qualifiers 2024–26 (FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition) – Group stage fixtures by matchday" (PDF). UEFA. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  4. ↑ "European Qualifiers 2024–26 (FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition) – Group stage fixtures by group" (PDF). UEFA. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Liechtenstein v North Macedonia" (PDF). UEFA. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Wales v Kazakhstan" (PDF). UEFA. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Liechtenstein v Kazakhstan" (PDF). UEFA. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – North Macedonia v Wales" (PDF). UEFA. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – North Macedonia v Belgium" (PDF). UEFA. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Wales v Liechtenstein" (PDF). UEFA. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Kazakhstan v North Macedonia" (PDF). UEFA. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Belgium v Wales" (PDF). UEFA. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Kazakhstan v Wales" (PDF). UEFA. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Liechtenstein v Belgium" (PDF). UEFA. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – North Macedonia v Liechtenstein" (PDF). UEFA. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Belgium v Kazakhstan" (PDF). UEFA. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Kazakhstan v Liechtenstein" (PDF). UEFA. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Belgium v North Macedonia" (PDF). UEFA. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – North Macedonia v Kazakhstan" (PDF). UEFA. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Wales v Belgium" (PDF). UEFA. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Kazakhstan v Belgium" (PDF). UEFA. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Liechtenstein v Wales" (PDF). UEFA. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Belgium v Liechtenstein" (PDF). UEFA. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Full Time Report Qualifying round – Wales v North Macedonia" (PDF). UEFA. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  25. ↑ "Regulations: FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition" (PDF). FIFA. June 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026: Booking List before European Qualifiers Matchday 10" (PDF). UEFA. 17 November 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.