UEFA Qualifiers: The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for European nations are scheduled to begin in March 2025 and end with the play-offs in March 2026.
In total, 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup which is being co-hosted by three nations in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
According to the new format, the 2026 World Cup will feature 48 nations instead of the previous 32-team format. Therefore, European nations will be competing for 16 places instead of 13 at the most recent World Cups.
UEFA qualifying process for 2026 FIFA World Cup
54 teams will be divided into 12 groups of either four or five in UEFA qualifiers. Each country will play each other twice- one at home and once away. They will receive three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss, as usual.
The 12 group winners qualify directly for the World Cup. The four remaining places are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up. They will be facing the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners who have not already qualified. Those 16 teams will then be reduced to four which will also qualify for the World Cup.
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How do play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup work?
The 12 group runners-up compete in the play-offs, along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not finish their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
The 16 teams who enter the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths, with four teams in each. Play-off matches will be played in single-leg semi-finals followed by single-leg finals within the same international window in March 2026.
UEFA Qualifiers: When will the draw be held?
FIFA officially confirmed that the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will take place on Friday, December 13 at 11.00 GMT (12.00 CET).
Teams drawn into groups of five will begin the qualification process during the next international break, which is scheduled for March 2025. Teams drawn into groups of four will begin in September.
UEFA Qualifiers: Pots
Pot 1
- Spain
- Germany
- Portugal
- France
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Croatia
- England
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Austria
Pot 2
- Ukraine
- Sweden
- Turkey
- Wales
- Hungary
- Serbia
- Poland
- Greece
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Czech Republic
- Norway
Pot 3
- Scotland
- Slovenia
- Republic of Ireland
- Albania
- North Macedonia
- Georgia
- Finland
- Iceland
- Northern Ireland
- Montenegro
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Israel
Pot 4
- Bulgaria
- Luxembourg
- Kosovo
- Belarus
- Armenia
- Kazakhstan
- Azerbaijan
- Estonia
- Cyprus
- Faroe Islands
- Latvia
- Lithuania
Pot 5
- Moldova
- Malta
- Andorra
- Gibraltar
- Liechtenstein
- San Marino
Also Read: AFCON 2025: Complete List Of Qualifying Nations
2026 World Cup UEFA qualifiers: Key dates
- Group-stage draw: December 13 2024
- Group-stage match dates: March to November 2025
- Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
- Final tournament dates: June 11 to July 19 2026
