The street to the 2026 World Cup, an unprecedented 48-team occasion, is beneath approach. The ultimate event, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US, expands to 104 matches throughout 16 cities. Right here is all you have to know in regards to the numerous qualification paths for every confederation, key matches and rising contenders.
AFC (Asia)
Variety of spots Eight plus probably one through intercontinental playoff, up from six in 2022
Format Qualification options 5 rounds. Initially, 20 lower-ranked groups competed, adopted by 36 groups in group levels. The highest two from 18 groups in spherical three will qualify straight. Subsequent rounds decide additional qualifiers through group play and playoffs, culminating in inter-confederation playoffs.
Newest With the third spherical beneath approach Japan is on the cusp of turning into the primary nation (excluding hosts) to qualify for the World Cup in what’s going to form as much as be a two-year qualification course of for AFC groups. A victory towards Bahrain in Saitama on Thursday will safe Hajime Moriyasu’s facet’s spot as they presently maintain a 10-point lead over third-placed Indonesia in Group C with 4 video games to go. The race for the opposite qualification spots in Group C is tight, with Australia in second, only one level forward of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China. In Group A, Qatar’s Almoez Ali is the highest scorer throughout all confederations with 12 targets and the 2022 hosts want a win towards North Korea to maintain their computerized qualification hopes alive. Group leaders Iran can be on the cusp of qualification in the event that they safe a victory towards the United Arab Emirates in Tehran. South Korea, main Group B and with probably the most World Cup appearances by an Asian nation (11), can qualify with a win towards Oman and not less than a degree towards Jordan, each matches being performed at house.
Key fixtures throughout this worldwide break:
Caf (Africa)
Variety of spots 9 plus probably one through intercontinental playoff, up from 5 in 2022
Format Qualification options two rounds. First, 53 groups are competing in 9 teams, with every group winner qualifying. The 4 greatest runners-up will battle in playoffs: two semi-finals and a ultimate. The playoff winner advances to the inter-confederation playoffs.
Newest Within the first spherical, Egypt, with a four-point lead in Group A and the healthiest cushion in Caf qualifying, are unbeaten and purpose to solidify their qualification bid with matches towards Ethiopia and Sierra Leone with Caf’s joint-top scorers Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Trézéguet. Below Pape Thiaw Senegal will search to shut the two-point hole on shock Group B leaders Sudan of their match on Saturday. Nigeria, winless in Group C, and determined to qualify after simply lacking out in 2022, face must-win video games towards Rwanda and Zimbabwe beneath their new coach Éric Chelle, the primary non-Nigerian African to handle the Tremendous Eagles. Morocco are Africa’s highest-ranked group after their incredible displaying in Qatar and with an ideal document in Group E ought to face a simple path to qualification. The Afcon champions Ivory Coast solely have a one-point lead in Group F.
Key fixtures throughout this worldwide break:
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Niger v Morocco, 21 March
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Sudan v Senegal, 22 March
Concacaf (North, Central America and Caribbean)
Variety of spots 3+3 (hosts) plus probably two through an intercontinental playoff, up from 4 in 2022
Format Qualification options three rounds – the primary a playoff for the 4 lowest-ranked groups. Then, 30 groups compete in six teams, with the highest two advancing. The ultimate 12 groups are divided into three teams; group winners qualify straight, and one of the best two runners-up enter inter-confederation playoffs.
Newest With three computerized qualification spots already taken by the host nations, the competitors for the remaining three direct locations and two playoff alternatives is especially tight. Honduras and Costa Rica are performing as anticipated, topping Group A and B respectively within the second spherical. Nonetheless, sturdy begins for Curaçao, who high Group C on objective distinction because of Concacaf’s high goalscorer Rangelo Janga recommend that the trail to the World Cup could maintain some sudden twists.
No fixtures throughout this worldwide break, subsequent video games in June
Conmebol (South America)
Variety of spots: six plus probably one through intercontinental playoff, up from 4 in 2022
Format Conmebol’s qualification is a single, gruelling league format. All ten nations play one another house and away. The highest six groups qualify straight for the World Cup whereas the seventh-placed group enters the inter-confederation playoffs.
Newest With six matchdays remaining, Argentina, main the desk by 5 factors, faces essential encounters towards Uruguay and Brazil. Lionel Messi will miss these matches on account of damage however the defending champions solely want seven factors from their remaining 18 to safe qualification. Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, presently second, will conflict along with his native Argentina, aiming to take care of their latest scoring kind after a objective drought late final 12 months noticed them go 4 matches with out discovering the again of the web. Brazil, sitting fifth and in addition with out Neymar, have been inconsistent however will hope the momentum from Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton’s latest historic trophy win with Newcastle will present a lift. Whereas Chile stay in competition for seventh place, Bolivia and Venezuela are the first contenders for the playoff spot, every looking for a historic World Cup look: Bolivia’s first since 1994 and Venezuela’s inaugural qualification.
Key fixtures throughout this worldwide break:
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Uruguay v Argentina, 20 March
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Argentina v Brazil, 25 March
OFC (Oceania)
Variety of spots One plus probably one through intercontinental playoff, up from zero in 2022
Format Within the first of three rounds, 4 lowest-ranked groups compete in a knockout event. The winner joins seven high groups in two teams, enjoying as soon as every. The highest two from every group advance to a ultimate knockout spherical the place the winner qualifies straight, and the runner-up enters inter-confederation playoffs.
Newest Oceania’s historic assured World Cup spot can be determined in essential matches with New Caledonia going through Tahiti, and New Zealand enjoying Fiji within the semi-finals. New Zealand, favoured on account of their expertise and rating, topped Group B with an ideal document, whereas New Caledonia led Group A with two wins and a draw. Fiji can be with out their captain and all-time high scorer, Roy Krishna, who misses out after succumbing to damage with Indian membership facet, Odisha. Rob Sherman’s facet, made up of novice gamers who work as law enforcement officials and building employees, face the daunting job of preserving out the in-form Chris Wooden for New Zealand.
Key fixtures throughout this worldwide break:
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New Caledonia v Tahiti, semi-final, 21 March
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New Zealand v Fiji, semi-final, 21 March
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Ultimate, 24 March
Uefa (Europe)
Variety of spots 16, up from 13 in 2022
Format Fifty-four groups are divided into 12 teams for the primary spherical, enjoying house and away. Group winners qualify straight whereas the second spherical options 12 runners-up and 4 high Nations League group winners who missed direct qualification. These 16 groups are cut up into 4 playoff paths, every with semi-finals and a ultimate, with the 4 ultimate winners securing qualification.
Newest The primary spherical group stage begins throughout this worldwide break, with Thomas Tuchel getting his first style as England head coach in Group Ok, going through Albania and Latvia within the preliminary fixtures. The group stage, which continues up till November 2025, sees staggered begins, with five-team teams, like England’s, starting this month whereas four-team teams, involving Nations League quarter-finalists, begin later in September. Wales face Kazakhstan, Scotland play Belarus and Greece of their early matches, whereas Northern Eire await their begin. Elsewhere, Liechtenstein, one of many smallest international locations aiming for a spot on the 2026 World Cup, will hope for an upset in a troublesome group with Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia and Kazakhstan.
Key fixtures throughout this worldwide break:
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England v Albania, 21 March
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Wales v Kazakhstan, 22 March
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Poland v Malta, 24 March
Inter-confederation playoffs
The ultimate two spots can be determined via an inter-confederation playoff event which is able to happen in one of many host international locations in March 2026. This six-team single-elimination occasion will embrace one group every from the AFC, Caf, Conmebol and OFC, together with two groups from Concacaf (the host confederation receives an extra entry). The format of the playoffs sees the six groups ranked based mostly on their Fifa world rating. The 4 lowest-ranked groups will compete in two semi-final matches, whereas the 2 highest-ranked groups will obtain a bye on to the finals. Winners of the 2 semi-finals will then face the 2 seeded groups within the finals, and the winners of those two ultimate matches will safe the final two locations on the 2026 World Cup.
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