The European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin in March 2025 and end with the play-offs in March 2026.
How the European Qualifiers Work
The draw for the qualifiers took place on 13 December 2024 in Zurich. Teams have been placed in 12 groups, some with four teams and others with five. Groups that include teams playing in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals will be completed after those matches in March 2025. The winners of those games will join groups of four teams.
The qualifiers will follow the home-and-away format, where every team plays against all other teams in their group. Groups of four will start playing in September 2025, while others begin in March. All group matches will be completed by November 2025.
World Cup 2026 Qualifying Draw
Here is the group stage draw for the European Qualifiers:
- Group A: Germany/Italy winners, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
- Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
- Group C: Portugal/Denmark losers, Greece, Scotland, Belarus
- Group D: France/Croatia winners, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
- Group E: Spain/Netherlands winners, Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria
- Group F: Portugal/Denmark winners, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
- Group G: Spain/Netherlands losers, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
- Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
- Group I: Germany/Italy losers, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
- Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
- Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
- Group L: France/Croatia losers, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
How Many Teams Will Qualify?
A total of 16 teams from Europe will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- 12 group winners will qualify directly.
- The remaining 4 spots will be decided through play-offs.
How the Play-Offs Work
The 12 group runners-up will enter the play-offs. They will be joined by the 4 best group winners from the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League who did not finish first or second in their qualifying groups.
These 16 teams will compete in four play-off paths. Each path will have a semi-final and final (single-leg matches). These games will be played in March 2026.
Important Dates for the 2026 European Qualifiers
- Group Stage Draw: 13 December 2024
- Group Stage Matches: March to November 2025
- Play-Off Matches: 26 & 31 March 2026
- Final Tournament: 11 June to 19 July 2026
World Cup 2026 Host Cities
The tournament will take place in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States:
- United States (11 cities): Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle
- Mexico (3 cities): Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
- Canada (2 cities): Toronto, Vancouver
The final match will be held in New York on 19 July 2026.
