FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers List

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers are now underway as nations vie for a place at the biggest Soccer World Cup ever. The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest tournaments of members of the Six Nations confederations all over the world. All FIFA-associated teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will join hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In this tournament, 48 teams would play and qualification began on 7 September 2023. Here is the list of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers from UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFA, CAF, and AFC.

The FIFA executive committee allowed the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process on 9 May 2017 in Zürich. Before the tournament, all 210 remaining FIFA member associations are eligible to enter the qualifying process. Canada, Mexico, and the United States are the host nations, so they will qualify automatically.

  • Europe (UEFA): 16 Teams
  • North, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF): 6 Teams
  • South America (CONMEBOL): 6 Teams
  • Oceania Football Confederation (OFA): 1 Team
  • Confederation of African Football (CAF): 9 Teams
  • Asia (AFC): 8 Teams
  • Play Off: 2 Teams
  • FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams– USA, Mexico and Canada
  • Total Qualifying Teams: 206 
  • Teams eliminated – 37
  • Dates: from 7 September 2023 to 31 March 2026

Format for the qualification process

All you need to know about FIFA World Cup 26 Format for the qualification process. Here is all about the qualifying process for the expanded 48-team tournament.

  • Each confederation is responsible for its qualification tournament
  • League format
  • Single round-robin format
  • Knockout format
  • One of the participating nations or in neutral territory
  • Single-leg knockout format

2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Confederation qualification of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers below –

  • Qualifying campaigns are now underway and It started in September 2023.
  • Expanded 48-Nation will participate in the tournament

AFC

  • Total FIFA World Cup 26 Seats: 8 direct slots (+1 for intercontinental playoffs)
  • First round – 20 teams (ranked 27–46) – Round Completed
  • Second round – 36 Teams (round-robin ) – Round Completed
  • Third round –  18 Teams (round-robin) – Matchday 6 Round Completed
  • Fourth round – 6 Teams – from 8 October 2025 to 14 October 2025
  • Fifth round – inter-confederation ply-offs – from 13 November to 18 November 2025
  • Teams started – 46
  • Teams eliminated – 28
  • Qualified Teams – 0
  • Next Qualifying Match – 20 March 2025

CAF

  • Total FIFA World Cup 26 Seats: 9 direct slots (+1 for intercontinental playoffs)
  • Qualified Teams: 0
  • First round – 9 groups of 6 teams (round-robin)
  • Second round – 4 best-ranked group runners-up (inter-confederation play-offs)
  • Teams started – 53
  • Teams eliminated – 0
  • Qualified Teams – 0
  • Next Qualifying Match – March 2025

CONCACAF

  • Total FIFA World Cup 26 Seats: 6 direct Slot
  • Qualified Teams: 3 (Canada, Mexico, USA (3))
  • First round – 4 teams (FIFA ranked 29 to 32)
  • Second round – 30 Teams (CONCACAF teams ranked 1 to 28)
  • Third round –  12 Teams (inter-confederation play-offs)
  • Teams started – 32 + 3 (Host)
  • Teams eliminated – 2
  • Qualified Teams – 0 + 3
  • Next Qualifying Match – 4 June 2025

CONMEBOL

  • Total FIFA World Cup 26 Seats: 6 direct slots (+1 for intercontinental playoffs)
  • Qualified Teams: 0
  • 10 nations in CONCACAF members (round-robin)
  • Teams started – 10
  • Teams eliminated – 0
  • Qualified Teams – 0
  • Next Qualifying Match – 20 March 2025

OFC (Oceania Football Confederation)

  • Total FIFA World Cup 26 Seats: 1 direct slot (+1 for intercontinental playoffs)
  • Qualified Teams: 0
  • First round: 4 OFC teams (FIFA Ranking(4 lowest FIFA-ranked teams and play round-robin)
  • Second round: 7 highest-ranked teams
  • Third round: The 4 OFC teams ( inter-confederation play-offs)
  • Teams started – 11
  • Teams eliminated – 7
  • Qualified Teams – 0
  • Next Qualifying Match – 21 March 2025

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations

  • Total FIFA World Cup 26 Seats: 16 direct slots
  • Qualified Teams: 0
  • First-round: 12 groups of 4 or 5 teams
  • Second round: The 16-group runner-up (National League overall ranking)
  • Teams started – 54
  • Teams eliminated – 0
  • Qualified Teams – 0
  • Next Qualifying Match – 21 March 2025

Inter-confederation play-offs

  • Six nations will compete in a mini-tournament
  • Qualifying Match – March 2026

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualified Teams

S NoTeamsPrevious BestQualified As
1United StatesGroup stage (1986, 2022)Host
2CanadaQuarter-finals (1970, 1986)Host
3MexicoThird place (1930)Host

Top goalscorers

  • Almoez Ali – Qatar – 12 goals
  • Son Heung-min – South Korea – 10 goals
  • Ayase Ueda – Japan – 8 goals
  • Yazan Al-Naimat – Jordan – 8 goals
  • 7 Goals
    • Sardar Azmoun – Iran
    • Mehdi Taremi – Iran
    • Aymen Hussein – Iraq
    • Fábio Lima – United Arab Emirates
  • 6 Goals
    • Lionel Messi – Argentina
    • Kusini Yengi – Australia
    • Kōki Ogawa – Japan
    • Musa Al-Taamari – Jordan
    • Ali Olwan – Jordan
    • Joel Kojo – Kyrgyzstan
    • Chris Wood – New Zealand

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