2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will decide the 45 teams that will join hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 September 2023 – 31 March 2026 |
| Teams | 206 (from 6 confederations) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 392 |
| Goals scored | 1,067 (2.72 per match) |
| Attendance | 6,574,199 (16,771 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Almoez Ali(12 goals) |
← 2022 2030 →
All statistics correct as of 19 November 2024. | |
Qualification began on 7 September 2023 with three matches of the CONMEBOL zone played that day.[1] The first goal of the qualification series was scored by Colombian player Rafael Santos Borré.
Slot allocation
editOn 30 March 2017, the Bureau of the FIFA Council (composed of the FIFA president and the presidents of each of the six confederations) proposed a slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The recommendation was submitted for the ratification by the FIFA Council.[2][3]
On 9 May 2017, two days before the 67th FIFA Congress, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation in a meeting in Manama, Bahrain. This includes an intercontinental play-off tournament involving six teams to decide the last two FIFA World Cup spots.[4]
The ratification of slot allocation also gives the OFC a guaranteed berth in the final tournament for the first time in FIFA World Cup history: the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first tournament in which all six confederations have at least one guaranteed berth.
Qualified teams
edit
| Team | Method of qualification |
Date of qualification |
Finals appearance |
First time qualified |
Last time qualified |
Current consecutive appearances[note 1] |
Previous best performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canada |
Hosts | 14 February 2023[note 2] | 3rd | 1986 | 2022 | 2 | Group stage (1986, 2022) |
 Mexico |
Hosts | 14 February 2023[note 2] | 18th | 1930 | 2022 | 9 | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
 United States |
Hosts | 14 February 2023[note 2] | 12th | 1930 | 2022 | 2 | Third place (1930) |
Notes
- ^ Including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- ^ a b c Although the United bid was selected on 13 June 2018, the automatic berths allocated to the hosts were not confirmed until a decision by the FIFA Council on 14 February 2023.[5]
Qualification process
editOn 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation scheme for the new 48-team final format.[4]
Summary of qualification
edit
| |||||||||
| Confederation | Direct slots | Play-off slots | Teams started | Teams eliminated | Teams can still qualify | Teams qualified | Qualifying start date | Qualifying next match date | Qualifying end date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | 8 | 1 | 46 | 28 | 18 | 0 | 12 October 2023 | 20 March 2025 | 18 November 2025 |
| CAF | 9 | 1 | 53 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 15 November 2023 | March 2025 | November 2025 |
| CONCACAF | 3+3 (hosts) | 2 | 32+3 (hosts) | 2 | 30 | 0+3 | 22 March 2024 | 4 June 2025 | November 2025 |
| CONMEBOL | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 September 2023 | March 2025 | September 2025 |
| OFC | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 6 September 2024 | 21 March 2025 | 24 March 2025 |
| UEFA | 16 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 21 March 2025 | 21 March 2025 | 31 March 2026 |
| Play-offs | 2 | — | (6) | 0 | (6) | 0 | March 2026 | March 2026 | March 2026 |
| Total | 45+3 | 6 | 206+3 (hosts) | 37 | 169 | 0+3 | 7 September 2023 | 20 March 2025 | 31 March 2026 |
Suspensions and withdrawals
editRussia were suspended indefinitely on 28 February 2022 from participating in UEFA and FIFA competitions due to their country's invasion of Ukraine.[6] A circular distributed by UEFA on 11 November 2024 stated 192 group stage matches would take place, confirming Russia's exclusion from the tournament.[7]
Eritrea withdrew from qualification prior to playing any matches.[8][9]
Format
editEach confederation is responsible for its own qualification tournament, which will consist of at least one round of competition using the following formats (Regulations Article 11.3):[10]
- A league format in which each team in a group plays all other teams in their group twice – once at home and once away.
- A single round-robin format in which each team in a group plays all other teams in their group once, with the venues either drawn at random or assigned by the confederation with the agreement of the playing associations.
- A knockout format in which each team in a round plays one other team over two legs – once at home and once away.
- With FIFA's permission, a tournament held in one of the participating nations or in neutral territory.
- With FIFA's permission, a single-leg knockout format.
Tiebreakers
editIn the two round-robin formats, the tiebreaker criteria are as follows (Regulations Article 11.5):[10]
- Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss)
- Greatest goal differential in all group matches
- Most goals scored in all group matches
Should two or more teams still have equal rank after criteria 1–3 are applied, then the following criteria are used:
- Greatest number of points obtained in all matches amongst the concerned teams
- Greatest goal differential in all matches amongst the concerned teams
- Most goals scored in all matches amongst the concerned teams
- Most goals scored away from home in all matches amongst the concerned teams
- The best team conduct score using the following table:
Only one score will be applied to any player or team official in any match, e.g. a player who receives a second yellow card will only have –3 points applied and not –4 (–1 for the first and –3 for the second).
- First yellow card: –1 point
- Second yellow card/indirect red card: –3 points
- Direct red card: –4 points
- Yellow card and direct red card: –5 points
- Drawing of lots by FIFA
If the tournament is being held in a single host nation or in neutral territory, then criterion 7 will not be applied (Regulations Article 11.6).[10]
In the home-and-away knockout format, the team scoring more goals on aggregate wins the tie and advances. If the aggregate score is level, then 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, the away goals rule will not be applied and the winners will be decided by a penalty shoot-out (Regulations Article 11.9).[10] In the single-leg knockout format, the team scoring more goals in a single match wins and advances. If the teams are tied after regulation, then extra time will be played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if the score is still level (Regulations Article 11.10).[10]
Confederation qualification
editAFC
editOn 1 August 2022, the Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee approved the qualification format for Asia's road to the 2026 World Cup, as well as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, in preparation for the eight direct spots and the single intercontinental play-off slot allocated to the AFC by FIFA following the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams.[11] The draw for the first round was held on 27 July 2023 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[12] The draw for the second round took place two hours later.
The qualification structure is as follows:
- First round: Twenty teams (ranked 27–46) played home-and-away over two legs.[13] The ten winners advanced to the second round.
- Second round: Thirty-six teams (those ranked 1–26 and the ten first-round winners) were divided into nine groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The eighteen group winners and group runners-up advanced to the third round.
- Third round: The eighteen teams that advanced from the second round were divided into three groups of six teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the World Cup, while the third-placed and fourth-placed teams of each group will advance to the fourth round.
- Fourth round: The six teams that advance from the third round will be divided into two groups of three teams each to play a single round-robin. The winners will qualify for the World Cup.
- Fifth round: The fourth round group runners-up will compete in a two-legged play-off tie to determine the Asian representation at the inter-confederation play-offs.
Sri Lanka were suspended in January 2023[14] and they did not appear in the draw information the AFC released in early July.[15] However, they were re-added with the condition that their federation hold elections at least ten days before qualification starts.[16]
Current stage (third round)
edit|
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024.
Source: AFC (X) Assured of advancing to the fourth round; can still qualify directly |
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024.
Source: AFC |
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024.
Source: AFC (X) Assured of advancing to the fourth round; can still qualify directly |
CAF
editThe CAF Executive Committee announced a new African qualification format on 19 May 2023.[17][18]
The draw was held on 13 July 2023 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[19][20] All 54 FIFA-affiliated football associations from CAF entered qualification, however Eritrea withdrew before matches began.[21]
The qualification structure is as follows:
- First round: Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The winner of each group will qualify for the World Cup.
- Second round: The four best-ranked group runners-up will participate in a play-off to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Current stage (first round)
edit
Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
CONCACAF
editThree nations in CONCACAF—Canada, Mexico and the United States—automatically qualified as host nations. On 28 February 2023, CONCACAF announced the qualifying format for 2026 World Cup qualification.[25]
- First round: Four CONCACAF teams, ranked 29 to 32 based on the FIFA ranking of December 2023, were divided into two matchups to be played on a two-legged home-and-away basis. The two winners advanced to the second round.
- Second round: Thirty teams – the two winners from the first round and CONCACAF teams ranked 1 to 28 based on the FIFA ranking of December 2023 – were drawn into six groups of five teams. They will play single round-robin matches (two home and two away), with group winners and runners-up advancing to the third round.
- Third round: The twelve teams advancing from the second round will be drawn into three groups of four teams. They will play double round-robin home-and-away matches, with the three group winners qualifying for the World Cup. The two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Current stage (second round)
edit|
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024.
Source: FIFA |
CONMEBOL
editOn 22 August 2022, CONMEBOL petitioned FIFA to keep the qualification format which had been used since the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, where all CONMEBOL members play home-and-away round-robin matches against each other.[27][28][29][30] This was approved, with the first games of the qualifiers played in September 2023.[31]
Before the qualification competition began, Ecuador were deducted 3 points for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[32]
Current stage
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Argentina
|
12 | 25 |
| 2 |  Uruguay
|
12 | 20 |
| 3 |  Ecuador
|
12 | 19 |
| 4 |  Colombia
|
12 | 19 |
| 5 |  Brazil
|
12 | 18 |
| 6 |  Paraguay
|
12 | 17 |
| 7 |  Bolivia
|
12 | 13 |
| 8 |  Venezuela
|
12 | 12 |
| 9 |  Chile
|
12 | 9 |
| 10 |  Peru
|
12 | 7 |
Source: FIFA
OFC
edit2026 marks the first time OFC will be granted one guaranteed slot in the World Cup, as well as a possible second slot via the inter-confederation play-offs.
The qualification structure is as follows:[33]
- First round: The four lowest-ranked teams played a three-match knockout round in September 2024. The winner, Samoa, advanced to the second round.
- Second round: The winning team from the first round joined the seven highest-ranked teams in two four-team groups in October and November 2024. The top two teams from each group advanced to the third round.
- Third round: The four teams advancing from the second round will play a three-match knockout round in March 2025 with the winner qualifying for the World Cup and the runner-up going to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Current stage (third round)
edit| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 21 March 2025 – Wellington | ||||||
 New Caledonia | ||||||
| 24 March 2025 – Auckland | ||||||
 Tahiti | ||||||
| Winner Semi-final 1 | ||||||
| 21 March 2025 – Wellington | ||||||
| Winner Semi-final 2 | ||||||
 New Zealand | ||||||
 Fiji | ||||||
UEFA
editThe UEFA Executive Committee announced a new European qualification format on 25 January 2023. Teams will be drawn into twelve groups of four or five teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches from March to November 2025. The group winners will qualify for the World Cup, while the runners-up will participate in play-off matches.[34]
The qualification draw will take place on 13 December 2024 in Zürich, Switzerland.[35]
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia's national team is currently suspended, and their exclusion was confirmed in a circular distributed by UEFA on 11 November 2024.[36]
- First round (group stage): Twelve groups of either four or five teams will be drawn, with group winners qualifying for the World Cup finals.
- Second round (play-off stage): 16 teams (twelve group runners-up and four best Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League overall ranking, that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group) will be drawn into four play-off paths, playing two rounds of single-match play-offs (semi-finals with the seeded teams to host, followed by finals, with the home teams to be drawn). The four path winners will qualify for the World Cup finals.[37]
Inter-confederation play-offs
editA play-off tournament involving six teams will be held to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths:[2] these consist of one team per confederation, except for UEFA, and one additional team from the confederation of the host countries (CONCACAF).
Two of the teams will be seeded based on the World Rankings, and these seeded teams will play for a FIFA World Cup berth against the winners of the first two knockout games involving the four unseeded teams.
The four-game tournament is to be played in one or more of the host countries and to be used as a test event for the FIFA World Cup.
Top goalscorers
editThere have been 1,067 goals scored in 392 matches, for an average of 2.72 goals per match (as of 19 November 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
12 goals
10 goals
8 goals
7 goals
6 goals
Below are goalscorer lists for all confederations and the inter-confederation play-offs:
References
edit- ^ "Arrancan las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas hoy con tres partidos. ¿Por dónde verlos?". futbol.com.uy - Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "World Cup 2026: Fifa reveals allocation for 48-team tournament". BBC. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017.
- ^ a b "FIFA Council prepares Congress, takes key decisions for the future of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 9 May 2017. Archived from the original on 18 June 2017.
- ^ "FIFA Council highlights record breaking revenue in football". FIFA. 14 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ Theodoridis, Theodore (11 November 2024). "Draw procedure for the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 knockout stage and play-off draw – Fixture list procedure for the European Qualifiers 2024–26" (Press release). UEFA. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Eritrea Pull Out Of 2026 World Cup Qualifier". Dehai News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Eritrea withdraw from FIFA World Cup qualifiers". FIFA. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Regulations: FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition" (PDF). FIFA. June 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "Asia's pathway to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 confirmed". AFC. 1 August 2022. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw". AFC. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Seedings revealed for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw". Asian Football Confederation. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "Suspension of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) from 21 January 2023 until further notice" (PDF). FIFA Circular. No. 1831. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers draw". AFC. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "SL included in FIFA World Cup qualifying draw on strict conditions". Ceylon Today. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "CAF Executive Committee approves FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers calendar and announces TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023 Final Draw date". CAF. 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "CAF reveals new format for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers". CAF. 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Olsson, Andrew (4 July 2023). "Learn all about 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in the CAF region and the seeds". Pan-Africa Football. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers Official Draw on 13 July". cafonline. CAF. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
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- ^ "FIFA awards win to Niger after Congo no-show in World Cup qualifier". The Straits Times. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ Dunbar, Graham (24 May 2024). "Equatorial Guinea must default wins in World Cup qualifying over same ineligible player as in 2013". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "CONCACAF announces formats for men's national team competitions for the 2023-2026 cycle". CONCACAF. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Cayman forfeits Cuba game after first match win in WC". Cayman News. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
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- ^ "CONMEBOL's petition for the 2026 World Cup that could change FIFA's entire plans". Bolavip. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "CONCACAF learn the number of qualification places for 2026 World Cup". MARCA. 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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- ^ a b "The CAS confirms the eligibility of the player Byron Castillo (Ecuador) but imposes sanctions against the Ecuadorian Football Federation for a violation of the FIFA regulations" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 8 November 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
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