Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup has begun in most countries around the world, but UEFA will only just be getting started in the new year now that the UEFA Nations League is drawing to a close. The road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada begins in Europe as the nations begin their qualifying rounds.
The top teams from each group will automatically qualify while the runners-up will compete in the playoffs for the remaining World Cup spots. This is a new format with more groups than before and now 16 UEFA teams qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup. The qualifications will therefore be divided into 12 groups, six with four teams and six with five teams.
How to watch
- Date: Friday December 13 | Time: 6 a.m. ET
- Location: UEFA Headquarters — Zurich, Switzerland
- Live broadcast: FIFA+
Pots
Jar 1
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- England
- The Netherlands
- Belgium
- Italy
- Germany
- Croatia
- Swiss
- Denmark
- Austria
Jar 2
- Ukraine
- Suede
- Türkiye
- Wales
- Hungary
- Serbia
- Poland
- Romania
- Greece
- Slovakia
- Czechia
- Norway
Jar 3
- Scotland
- Slovenia
- Republic of Ireland
- Albania
- North Macedonia
- Georgia
- Finland
- Iceland
- Montenegro
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Israel
Jar 4
- Bulgaria
- Luxembourg
- Belarus
- Kosovo
- Armenia
- Kazakhstan
- Azerbaijan
- Estonia
- Cyprus
- Faroe Islands
- Latvia
- Lithuania
Jar 5
- Moldova
- Malta
- Andorra
- Gibraltar
- Liechtenstein
- San Marino
