With the 2024 worldwide calendar winding down and the newest UEFA Nations League drawing to an in depth, eyes are beginning to veer in the direction of North America and the 2026 World Cup.
Positive, there are Nations League finals and play-offs but to play out, however the 2025 calendar is ready to be dominated by qualification campaigns for the grandest spectacle in sport.
Whereas the likes of CONCACAF and the AFC have opted for protracted qualifying processes involving a number of rounds, UEFA choose cramming all of the video games inside a couple of months. The overlapping of the Nations League is certain to facilitate some confusion subsequent yr, however England, who’ll have qualifiers and qualifiers solely on their thoughts beneath Thomas Tuchel in 2025, are one of many nations with a singular focus.
It isn’t lengthy till the Three Lions study their opponents and this is the whole lot you must find out about UEFA’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
UEFA’s 2026 World Cup qualifying draw is scheduled for Friday 13 December 2024. It is set to get underway at midday CET (11:00 GMT) and can happen at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
How does the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw work?
With Russia nonetheless banned from competing, UEFA’s remaining 54 member associations will probably be drawn into 12 teams of 4 or 5 groups.
Teams 1-6 will comprise 4 groups and start qualifying in September 2025, whereas Teams 7-12 will comprise 5 groups and begin in March 2025. The 4 2024/25 Nations League semi-finalists should be positioned right into a four-team group as they will not be capable of participate in qualifying subsequent June.
Furthermore, with the Nations League play-offs not happening till subsequent March, solely 4 qualifying teams will probably be full when the draw is made in December.
The seedings have been confirmed for 2026 World Cup qualifying following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Nations League group part. Here is a breakdown of the 4 pots forward of December’s draw.
Pot 1
Nation
Spain
Germany
Portugal
France
Italy
Netherlands
Denmark
Croatia
England
Belgium
Switzerland
Austria
Pot 2
Nation
Ukraine
Sweden
Turkey
Wales
Hungary
Serbia
Poland
Greece
Romania
Slovakia
Czech Republic
Norway
Pot 3
Nation
Scotland
Slovenia
Republic of Eire
Albania
North Macedonia
Georgia
Finland
Iceland
Northern Eire
Montenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Israel
Pot 4
Nation
Bulgaria
Luxembourg
Kosovo
Belarus
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan
Estonia
Cyprus
Faroe Islands
Latvia
Lithuania
Pot 5
Nation
Moldova
Malta
Andorra
Gibraltar
Liechtenstein
San Marino
The qualifying schedule will probably be confirmed after the draw is made on 13 December, however we do know that groups will play one another residence and away in a bid to prime the group.
The 12 group winners will qualify robotically for the 2026 World Cup and the ultimate 4 UEFA-designated spots will probably be determined through the play-offs.
UEFA’s 2026 World Cup qualifying play-offs will happen in March 2026 with 16 nations competing.
The 12 group runners-up will probably be concerned alongside the 4 best-ranked 2024/25 Nations League group winners who have not already certified for the event.
The 16 nations that enter the play-offs will probably be drawn into 4 play-off paths, with 4 groups in every. The winners of every path will be a part of the 12 qualifying group winners on the 2026 World Cup.
