When does 2026 World Cup qualifying begin? Draw dates and seeding

It looks like solely yesterday that individuals all around the world gathered round their tv units to witness Lionel Messi elevate the World Cup trophy aloft in Qatar.

Nonetheless, eyes are already turning to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada, with expectations excessive for the newly-expanded 48-team event.

Succeeding in North America will pose a mighty problem however reaching the competitors itself could show a difficult barrier to hurdle for a lot of nations. The qualification course of may be arduous however the rewards are unrivalled.

Right here is the whole lot that you must learn about 2026 World Cup qualifying.

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup is but to start for UEFA nations and will not kick off till March 2025. The confederation’s nations shall be drawn into 12 totally different teams of 4 or 5 groups, with either side taking part in their group stage opponents residence and away. The draw for qualification will happen on 13 December 2024 in Switzerland.

Fixtures shall be performed from March to December 2025 and the 12 group winners will mechanically qualify for the expanded World Cup. The runners-up in every group will enter the play-off spherical alongside 4 sides primarily based on UEFA Nations league performances.

There are 4 knockout play-off paths, with the winner of every path securing passage to the 2026 World Cup. In whole, 16 UEFA sides will attain the event.

UEFA World Cup qualifying dates

South American sides have already began the World Cup qualification course of, kicking off their campaigns in September 2023. All ten of the confederation’s groups take part in a single league desk, taking part in 18 matches in whole – dealing with either side residence and away.

The highest six sides attain the World Cup group stage mechanically, whereas the seventh-placed nation will qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs. Mentioned play-offs include six nations – two from host confederation CONCACAF and one from one another confederation bar UEFA.

The ultimate Matchday 18 fixtures shall be performed in September 2025.

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying dates

Solely three nations have certified for the 2026 World Cup up to now and so they’re the three host nations: United States, Mexico and Canada. The second spherical of CONCACAF qualifying is effectively underway, with the six group winners and runners-up reaching the third spherical.

The third spherical will include the 12 sides making up three teams of 4, with the group winners mechanically reaching the World Cup. The 2 greatest performing second-placed sides will compete within the aforementioned inter-confederation play-offs.

The third spherical matches will start in September 2025, with three CONCACAF groups assured to hitch the host nations on the event.

CONCACAF World Cup qualifying dates

CAF World Cup qualifying can also be underway, with the primary spherical having kicked off in November 2023. It consists of 9 teams of six groups, with the winners of every group mechanically progressing to the event in North America. The ultimate Matchday 10 concludes in October 2025.

The 4 greatest performing runners up within the group stage will then qualify for the second spherical, competing in opposition to each other in a semi-final and remaining. The winner of the ultimate in November 2025 will qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs.

CAF World Cup qualifying dates

There are 5 rounds concerned in AFC World Cup qualifying for 2026, with the primary of these commencing on 12 October 2023. That noticed the confederation’s 20 lowest-ranked groups compete in two legged play-offs, with the ten victors transferring to the second spherical.

The second spherical was made up of 9 teams of 4 groups, with either side taking part in each other residence and away. These fixtures concluded in June 2024, with the highest two nations in every group qualifying for the third spherical and the unrelated Asian Cup.

The third spherical consists of three teams of six, with the highest two sides in every desk mechanically securing their spot on the 2026 World Cup. The six sides that end third and fourth in every group then enter the fourth spherical, which separates them into an additional two tables of three groups.

In that fourth spherical, the highest facet in every group qualify for the World Cup, whereas the second-placed groups enter the fifth spherical – a two-legged play-off. Nonetheless, the winner of the fifth spherical solely earns a spot within the inter-confederation play-off.

AFC World Cup qualifying dates

The primary spherical of OFC qualifying noticed the confederation’s 4 lowest-ranked nations competing for a spot within the second spherical. After a semi-final and a remaining, it was Samoa who progressed.

The second spherical is made up of simply two teams of 4 groups, with every nation taking part in six instances in whole. After these matches are accomplished, the highest two enter the third spherical.

Just one group qualifies mechanically from the third spherical, doing so in the event that they win their semi-final and remaining. The group that loses the showpiece occasion drops into the inter-confederation play-offs.

OFC World Cup qualifying dates

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