World Cup 2026 European qualifiers draw unveiled

ISTANBUL

The UEFA Preliminary Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 took place on Friday at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland.

The UEFA qualifying group stage for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to take place from March 2025 to November 2025.

The format remains unchanged, with 12 groups of four or five teams each. The winners of each group will qualify directly for the World Cup.

The four remaining spots will be decided in a 16-team UEFA playoff in March 2026 between the 12 group-stage runners-up and the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League 2024-25 group winners that have not qualified directly for the FIFA World Cup as group winners or have already entered the playoffs as group runners-up.

Opening game on June 11, 2026

The 2026 World Cup is set to be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico between June 11 and July 19.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark a historic expansion, featuring 48 teams for the first time in the tournament's history.

Europe will contribute 16 of these national teams, determined through the UEFA qualifying process.

The competition will be structured into 12 groups, with a total of 104 matches to be played.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11 with the opening match at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

The grand finale is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.

World Cup qualifying groups:

Group A: Winner of Germany vs. Italy UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo

Group C: Loser of Portugal vs Denmark UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Greece, Scotland, Belarus

Group D: Winner of France vs. Croatia UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan

Group E: Winner of Spain vs. Netherlands UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria

Group F: Winner of Portugal vs. Denmark UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia

Group G: Loser of Spain vs. Netherlands UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greek Cypriot Administration, San Marino

Group I: Loser of Germany vs. Italy UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra

Group L: Loser vs. France vs. Croatia UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar