Canada, Mexico, and the United States will jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Qualification for the event kicked off on September 7, 2023, and is set to conclude in March 2026. The tournament will include a maximum of 207 teams representing six confederations. To break it down, each confederation has a specific number of direct slots and play-off slots for the World Cup.
Currently, 46 out of the 48 participating teams have been allocated. The remaining two spots will be determined through a play-off tournament comprising of six teams. The qualification process is still ongoing, and the final matches are scheduled to take place in November 2025.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Format
The upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026 is set to showcase a total of 48 teams representing six confederations. These teams will be organized into 16 groups, each consisting of three teams. The format dictates that the top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stage, leading to the highly anticipated quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately, the grand final. Additionally, the tournament will incorporate a play-off involving six teams, determining the last two spots for the FIFA World Cup. As of now, the qualification process is in full swing, with the concluding matches scheduled to take place in November 2025. Stay tuned for more updates on the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers schedule, standings, results, and the table of qualified teams.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Schedule
Structure
Each confederation is responsible for organizing its qualification tournament, featuring a minimum of one round of competition following the prescribed formats.
1. League Format:
– Each team within a group engages in two matches against every other team in their group – once at home and once away.
2. Single Round-Robin Format:
– Every team in a group plays a single match against all other teams in the group, with venues selected either randomly or by the confederation in agreement with the playing associations.
3. Knockout Format:
– Teams in a round compete in a knockout format, playing one other team twice – once at home and once away.
4. Tournament Hosted Nation or Neutral Territory:
– With FIFA’s approval, a tournament may be held in one of the participating nations or neutral territory.
5. ingle-Leg Knockout Format (with FIFA’s Permission):
– With FIFA’s authorization, a single-leg knockout format may be employed.
1. Greatest points obtained in all group matches (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss).
2. Highest goal differential in all group matches.
3. Most goals scored in all group matches.
If equality persists after applying criteria 1-3, the following are considered:
4. Highest points obtained in all matches among the concerned teams.
5. Superior goal differential in all matches among the concerned teams.
6. Most goals scored in all matches among the concerned teams.
7. Most away goals scored in all matches among the concerned teams.
Additionally, a team conduct score is determined using the provided table:
– First yellow card: -1 point
– Second yellow card/indirect red card: -3 points
– Direct red card: -4 points
– Yellow card and direct red card: -5 points
Only one score applies to any player or team official in a match (e.g., a player with a second yellow card incurs only -3 points, not -4: -1 for the first and -3 for the second).
Drawing of Lots by FIFA
If the tournament occurs in a single host nation or neutral territory, criterion 7 is not applicable.
In the home-and-away knockout format, the team with more goals over two matches wins and advances. In the single-leg knockout format, the team with more goals in a single match wins and advances. If the teams remain tied after regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods are played. If the tie persists after extra time, a penalty shoot-out determines the winner.
