2026 World Cup European Qualifiers Fixtures: Full Schedule and Key Dates
The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, and Europe’s biggest footballing nations are battling it out for a spot at the finals in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The UEFA European Qualifiers have already produced some exciting matches, and the journey continues through 2025 into early 2026 with the play-offs.
In this article, we provide the complete schedule of fixtures for all groups in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, along with the results of matches already played and the dates for the crucial play-off matches.
Format of the European Qualifiers
Europe has been divided into 12 groups. Groups A-F contain four teams each, while Groups G-L feature five teams. Each group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup. The runners-up, along with four top UEFA Nations League teams who did not finish in the top two, will advance to the play-offs.
The play-offs will take place in March 2026 to decide the final European teams heading to the World Cup.
Key Dates of the Qualifiers
The European Qualifiers run from March 2025 until November 2025, followed by the play-offs in March 2026.
- Matchdays 1-4: March – June 2025
- Matchday 5: September 2025
- Matchday 6: September 2025
- Matchday 7: October 2025
- Matchday 8: October 2025
- Matchday 9: November 2025
- Matchday 10: November 2025
- Play-off Semi-finals: 26 March 2026
- Play-off Finals: 31 March 2026
September 2025 Fixtures and Results
Matchday 6 – 7 September 2025 (Results)
- Georgia 3-0 Bulgaria
- North Macedonia 5-0 Liechtenstein
- Lithuania 2-3 Netherlands
- Luxembourg 0-1 Slovakia
- Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland
- Türkiye 0-6 Spain
- Poland 3-1 Finland
- Belgium 6-0 Kazakhstan
Matchday 6 – 8 September 2025 (Fixtures)
- Kosovo vs Sweden
- Switzerland vs Slovenia
- Belarus vs Scotland
- Greece vs Denmark
- Israel vs Italy
- Gibraltar vs Faroe Islands
- Croatia vs Montenegro
Matchday 7 – 9 September 2025 (Fixtures)
- Azerbaijan vs Ukraine
- Armenia vs Republic of Ireland
- France vs Iceland
- Hungary vs Portugal
- Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Austria
- Cyprus vs Romania
- Norway vs Moldova
- Albania vs Latvia
- Serbia vs England
October 2025 Fixtures
Matchdays 7 and 8 will continue through October 2025, with key matches such as England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy all featuring as they push closer to qualification. The exact fixtures will be spread across international windows during this month.
November 2025 Fixtures
The group stage will conclude in November with Matchdays 9 and 10. These matches will be decisive, determining which nations qualify directly and which teams must prepare for the March play-offs.
March 2026 Play-offs
Semi-finals: 26 March 2026
Finals: 31 March 2026
These knockout matches will decide the final UEFA representatives at the World Cup. High-stakes football is guaranteed as teams fight for the last available tickets.
Conclusion
The European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup promise drama and excitement until the very end. With heavyweights like Germany, Spain, France, and England competing, and smaller nations hoping to make history, every match matters. Football fans can mark their calendars with these key dates and follow their national teams on the road to the World Cup.
FAQs
Q1: When do the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers end?
The group stage ends in November 2025, followed by play-offs in March 2026.
Q2: How many UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
A total of 16 UEFA teams will qualify for the tournament.
Q3: Which groups have four teams and which have five?
Groups A-F have four teams, while Groups G-L feature five teams.
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Q4: What are the play-off dates for the UEFA qualifiers?
The semi-finals take place on 26 March 2026, and the finals on 31 March 2026.
Q5: Which teams are favorites to qualify from Europe?
Traditional powerhouses like Germany, Spain, France, England, and Italy are considered favorites, though surprises are always possible.
