2026 World Cup Qualifiers – Live, Schedules, Format Explained
The 2026 World Cup is quietly underway, and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers are now in progress across all continents. For football fans, stay tuned for the latest updates and information from the world of football. Don’t miss the qualifier information from all regions – Asia, Oceania, South America, Africa, North/Central America & Caribbean, and Europe. Let’s take a look!
World Cup Asia Qualifiers
2026 World Cup Asia Qualifiers Format
The Asian qualifiers have entered the third round, with 18 teams divided into three groups of six teams each. Each team plays home and away matches in a double round-robin format. The top two teams in each group directly qualify for the World Cup finals, while the third and fourth-placed teams advance to the fourth round.
2026 World Cup Asia Qualifiers Schedule
Date
Time
Home
Away
Group
Result
June 5, 2025
TBD
Kuwait
Palestine
Group A
–
June 5, 2025
TBD
Indonesia
China
Group B
–
June 5, 2025
TBD
Australia
Japan
Group C
–
June 10, 2025
TBD
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Group A
–
June 10, 2025
TBD
Iran
Uzbekistan
Group B
–
June 10, 2025
TBD
Qatar
Iraq
Group C
–
2026 World Cup Asia Qualifiers Standings
Group A
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Iran
8
6
2
0
16
7
+9
20
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Uzbekistan
8
5
2
1
11
7
+4
17
Pending
3
Hong Kong
8
3
2
3
8
10
-2
11
–
4
Turkmenistan
8
2
3
3
6
9
-3
9
–
5
India
8
1
2
5
5
12
-7
5
–
6
Afghanistan
8
0
1
7
2
12
-10
1
–
Group B
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Japan
8
7
1
0
24
3
+21
22
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Australia
8
5
2
1
18
8
+10
17
Pending
3
Saudi Arabia
8
4
2
2
12
9
+3
14
–
4
China
8
2
3
3
8
11
-3
9
–
5
Bahrain
8
1
2
5
6
15
-9
5
–
6
Indonesia
8
0
2
6
4
22
-18
2
–
Group C
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
South Korea
8
6
1
1
20
6
+14
19
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Iraq
8
5
2
1
14
8
+6
17
Pending
3
Jordan
8
3
3
2
10
9
+1
12
–
4
Oman
8
2
3
3
7
10
-3
9
–
5
Kuwait
8
1
3
4
5
12
-7
6
–
6
Palestine
8
0
2
6
4
15
-11
2
–
World Cup Europe Qualifiers
2026 World Cup Europe Qualifiers Format
Europe’s qualification slots have increased from 13 to 16. The group stage consists of 12 groups with 4 to 5 teams each. Group winners directly qualify for the World Cup finals, while second-placed teams and some best-performing teams will compete in playoffs for the remaining spots.
2026 World Cup Europe Qualifiers Schedule
Date
Time
Home
Away
Group
Result
November 14, 2025
01:00
Norway
Estonia
Group 1
–
November 14, 2025
01:00
Armenia
Hungary
Group 2
–
November 14, 2025
01:00
Azerbaijan
Iceland
Group 3
–
November 17, 2025
01:00
Netherlands
Poland
Group 1
–
November 17, 2025
01:00
France
Italy
Group 2
–
November 17, 2025
01:00
England
Germany
Group 3
–
2026 World Cup Europe Qualifiers Standings
Note: Europe has many groups, below are some of the main group standings
Group 1
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Netherlands
6
5
1
0
18
4
+14
16
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Poland
6
4
1
1
12
6
+6
13
Playoffs
3
Norway
6
2
2
2
8
9
-1
8
–
4
Estonia
6
0
0
6
2
21
-19
0
–
Group 2
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
France
6
6
0
0
20
3
+17
18
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Italy
6
4
0
2
14
8
+6
12
Playoffs
3
Hungary
6
2
1
3
7
11
-4
7
–
4
Armenia
6
0
1
5
3
18
-15
1
–
Group 3
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
England
6
5
1
0
19
5
+14
16
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Germany
6
4
1
1
15
7
+8
13
Playoffs
3
Iceland
6
2
0
4
6
12
-6
6
–
4
Azerbaijan
6
0
0
6
2
18
-16
0
–
World Cup South America Qualifiers
World Cup South America Qualifiers Format
South America qualifiers use a single round-robin league format, with 10 teams playing home and away matches in a double round-robin, totaling 18 rounds. The top 6 teams directly qualify for the World Cup finals, while the 7th-placed team will participate in the intercontinental playoffs.
World Cup South America Qualifiers Schedule
Date
Time
Home
Away
Result
September 4, 2025
TBD
Argentina
Brazil
–
September 4, 2025
TBD
Uruguay
Chile
–
September 4, 2025
TBD
Colombia
Ecuador
–
September 9, 2025
TBD
Paraguay
Peru
–
September 9, 2025
TBD
Venezuela
Bolivia
–
South America Qualifiers Standings
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Argentina
12
9
2
1
28
8
+20
29
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Brazil
12
8
3
1
25
9
+16
27
2026 World Cup Finals
3
Uruguay
12
7
3
2
20
11
+9
24
2026 World Cup Finals
4
Colombia
12
6
4
2
18
12
+6
22
2026 World Cup Finals
5
Ecuador
12
6
2
4
16
14
+2
20
2026 World Cup Finals
6
Chile
12
5
3
4
15
13
+2
18
2026 World Cup Finals
7
Paraguay
12
4
3
5
12
15
-3
15
Intercontinental Playoffs
8
Peru
12
3
4
5
11
16
-5
13
–
9
Venezuela
12
2
3
7
9
20
-11
9
–
10
Bolivia
12
1
1
10
6
27
-21
4
–
World Cup Oceania Qualifiers
2026 World Cup Oceania Qualifiers Format
The Oceania qualifiers are divided into multiple stages, ultimately determining 1 team that directly qualifies and 1 team that participates in the intercontinental playoffs.
2026 World Cup Oceania Qualifiers Schedule
Date
Time
Home
Away
Stage
Result
September 2025
TBD
New Zealand
New Caledonia
Final Stage
–
September 2025
TBD
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Final Stage
–
September 2025
TBD
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Final Stage
–
Oceania Qualifiers Standings
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
New Zealand
6
5
1
0
18
3
+15
16
2026 World Cup Finals
2
New Caledonia
6
4
1
1
12
6
+6
13
Intercontinental Playoffs
3
Fiji
6
3
1
2
10
9
+1
10
–
4
Papua New Guinea
6
2
1
3
8
12
-4
7
–
5
Solomon Islands
6
1
2
3
6
11
-5
5
–
6
Vanuatu
6
0
0
6
3
16
-13
0
–
World Cup Africa Qualifiers
2026 World Cup Africa Qualifiers Format
The Africa qualifiers are divided into multiple stages, ultimately determining 9 teams that directly qualify and 1 team that participates in the intercontinental playoffs.
2026 World Cup Africa Qualifiers Schedule
Date
Time
Home
Away
Group
Result
June 2025
TBD
Nigeria
South Africa
Group C
–
June 2025
TBD
Egypt
Ghana
Group A
–
June 2025
TBD
Senegal
Morocco
Group B
–
June 2025
TBD
Ivory Coast
Cameroon
Group D
–
Africa Qualifiers Standings
Note: Below are some of the main group standings
Group A
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Egypt
4
3
1
0
10
3
+7
10
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Ghana
4
2
1
1
7
5
+2
7
Pending
3
Mali
4
1
2
1
5
6
-1
5
–
4
Central African Republic
4
0
0
4
2
10
-8
0
–
Group B
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Senegal
4
4
0
0
12
2
+10
12
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Morocco
4
2
1
1
8
5
+3
7
Pending
3
DR Congo
4
1
1
2
4
7
-3
4
–
4
Mauritania
4
0
0
4
1
11
-10
0
–
Group C
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Nigeria
4
3
1
0
11
4
+7
10
2026 World Cup Finals
2
South Africa
4
2
1
1
8
6
+2
7
Pending
3
Benin
4
1
1
2
5
8
-3
4
–
4
Lesotho
4
0
1
3
3
9
-6
1
–
World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers
Format – Three Stages:
Stage 1: Lower-ranked teams compete in elimination rounds
Stage 2: 30 teams divided into 6 groups of 5 teams each, group winners advance
Stage 3: 12 teams divided into 3 groups of 4 teams each, top two teams directly qualify, third-placed teams enter playoffs
2026 World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers Schedule
Date
Time
Home
Away
Stage
Result
June 2025
TBD
United States
Mexico
Stage 3
–
June 2025
TBD
Canada
Costa Rica
Stage 3
–
June 2025
TBD
Jamaica
Panama
Stage 3
–
June 2025
TBD
Honduras
El Salvador
Stage 3
–
CONCACAF Qualifiers Standings
Note: Below are some Stage 3 group standings
Group 1
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
United States
4
3
1
0
10
3
+7
10
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Mexico
4
2
2
0
8
4
+4
8
2026 World Cup Finals
3
Guatemala
4
1
1
2
4
7
-3
4
Playoffs
4
Trinidad and Tobago
4
0
0
4
2
10
-8
0
–
Group 2
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Canada
4
3
1
0
9
2
+7
10
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Costa Rica
4
2
2
0
7
4
+3
8
2026 World Cup Finals
3
Cuba
4
1
1
2
5
8
-3
4
Playoffs
4
Haiti
4
0
0
4
1
10
-9
0
–
Group 3
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Jamaica
4
3
0
1
8
4
+4
9
2026 World Cup Finals
2
Panama
4
2
1
1
6
5
+1
7
2026 World Cup Finals
3
Honduras
4
1
1
2
4
6
-2
4
Playoffs
4
El Salvador
4
0
2
2
3
6
-3
2
–
Team Predictions and Analysis
Asia Predictions
Direct Qualification Favorites: Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia Analysis: Japan and South Korea are clearly ahead in Asia, Iran is a traditional powerhouse with stable performance, and Australia also has competitive advantages in the Asian region. These teams have a good chance of direct qualification. Playoff Contenders: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Qatar
Europe Predictions
Direct Qualification Favorites: France, England, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium, Germany Analysis: Europe has many strong teams. Traditional powerhouses like France and England are performing steadily in their respective groups with a high chance of direct qualification. Some teams may need to compete in playoffs to secure qualification spots. Playoff Contenders: Italy, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Scotland, Wales
South America Predictions
Direct Qualification Favorites: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile Analysis: Argentina and Brazil are performing strongly in the qualifiers and are almost certain to qualify directly. Teams like Uruguay and Colombia also have stable strength and good chances of qualification. Playoff Contenders: Paraguay, Peru
Africa Predictions
Direct Qualification Favorites: Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Tunisia, Algeria Analysis: Competition in Africa is intense. Strong teams like Senegal and Nigeria are performing excellently in their respective groups with good chances of direct qualification. Playoff Contenders: South Africa, Ghana, Morocco (some group runners-up)
CONCACAF Predictions
Direct Qualification Favorites: United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama Analysis: As hosts of the 2026 World Cup, the United States, Mexico, and Canada have automatically qualified. Teams like Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Panama are performing steadily in the qualifiers. Playoff Contenders: Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba
Oceania Predictions
Direct Qualification Favorites: New Zealand Analysis: New Zealand is clearly ahead in Oceania and is almost certain to qualify directly. Other teams may need to compete in playoffs to secure spots. Playoff Contenders: New Caledonia, Fiji
2026 World Cup Qualifiers Important Information
Host Countries: Canada, Mexico, United States (automatically qualified)
Final Tournament Teams: 48 teams (expanded from 32 to 48 teams)
Qualifiers Period: 2024 to 2026
Final Tournament Period: June 11 to July 19, 2026
Continental Allocations:
Asia: 8.5 slots
Europe: 16 slots
South America: 6.5 slots
Africa: 9.5 slots
CONCACAF: 6.5 slots (including 3 host countries)
Oceania: 1.5 slots
Note: The above information reflects the current qualifier progress as of now. Actual results may be updated as matches progress. It is recommended to regularly check the official website for the latest information.Source:2026 World Cup Qualifiers – Live, Schedules, Format Explained
