2026 World Cup: Who has qualified, and how the rest can make it

Qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup began connected Oct. 12, 2023, erstwhile insignificant nations from the Asian confederation played their archetypal circular of matches. Myanmar's Lwin Moe Aung scored the precise archetypal extremity successful a 5-1 triumph implicit Macau.

Most confederations present person qualifying good underway, but we're a agelong mode from discovering the afloat database of 45 nations who volition articulation hosts United States, Mexico and Canada.

Japan became the precise archetypal state to qualify connected March 20, followed by New Zealand, Iran and Argentina a fewer days later.

What tin beryllium decided this week

European qualifying lone started successful March, portion Africa takes a interruption successful June and Oceania is wrapped up.

The main signifier of Asian qualifying completes this week, meaning different 2 nations volition punch their summons to the World Cup.

There's inactive 4 rounds to beryllium played successful South America, but expect further qualifiers to articulation Argentina.

In Concacaf, the 2nd circular comes to a adjacent -- though determination are nary nonstop qualifiers astatine this stage.

Here's wherever we're astatine astir the globe.

QUALIFIED (4/45): Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina

South America (CONMEBOL)
6 car + 1 enters playoff

As successful caller qualifying competitions, each 10 nations play each different location and away. The apical six nations suffice straight to the finals. The seventh-placed squad volition spell into the inter-confederation playoffs successful March 2026.

The archetypal qualifiers took spot successful September 2023, with the league signifier to beryllium completed with double-headers successful June and September.

Argentina are the 1 squad to corroborate their spot truthful far, but the apical six successful the array are successful a precise beardown position.

How it's looking this week

With a five-point spread betwixt sixth-placed Colombia (20 points) and seventh-placed Venezuela (15 points) and lone 4 games to play, it's not looking apt that we'll get an breathtaking extremity to South American qualifying.

Ecuador (2nd, 23 points) tin suffice with a triumph astatine location to Brazil, if Venezuela gully oregon suffer aboriginal that night.

Uruguay (3rd, 21 points), Brazil (4th, 21 points), Paraguay (5th, 21 points) and Colombia (20 points) cannot suffice successful this round, but could get implicit the enactment connected Tuesday.

But connected Thursday determination is simply a immense fixture arsenic Bolivia (eighth, 14 points) tin ascent supra Venezuela and into the playoff spot if they prime up 3 points connected location turf.

Thursday's games

Ecuador vs. Brazil
Paraguay vs. Uruguay
Chile vs. Argentina
Colombia vs. Peru
Venezuela vs. Bolivia

Tuesday's games

Bolivia vs. Chile
Uruguay vs. Venezuela
Argentina vs. Colombia
Brazil vs. Paraguay
Peru vs. Ecuador

- Check retired the fixtures and results | Latest table

Asia (AFC)
8 car + 1 enters playoff

This is by immoderate region the astir analyzable way to the World Cup, with a layered qualifying process featuring a dual radical signifier to find the 8 automatic qualifiers. But the main portion volition beryllium done and dusted successful June.

Round 1: The 20 lowest-ranked nations played two-legged ties successful October 2023. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and Yemen advanced.

Round 2: Those 10 winners joined the 26 best-ranked nations. The 36 teams were drawn into 9 groups of 4 teams, with the apical 2 nations going done to Round 3. This signifier began successful November 2023 and was completed successful June 2024.

- Final tables

Advanced: Australia, Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Round 3: We're present near with 18 nations, who person been drawn into 3 groups of six teams. Matches began successful September 2024 and the circular is completed successful June.

The radical winners and runners-up volition instrumentality the archetypal six places astatine the 2026 World Cup and their run is complete.

Japan became the archetypal squad to qualify for the World Cup connected March 20, with Iran following connected March 25.

The six nations who decorativeness successful 3rd and 4th determination connected to Round 4.

How it's looking this week

GROUP A
Uzbekistan (17 points) and United Arab Emirates (13 points) conflict it retired for the 2nd automatic spot down Iran. And connected Thursday, it's UAE vs. Uzbekistan.

Nothing little than a triumph for UAE volition support them successful contention. Uzbekistan volition anticipation to debar defeat, which volition nonstop them to their first-ever World Cup. If UAE don't win, they are guaranteed to determination connected to Round 4.

Qatar (10 points) can't suffice successful this signifier but they look bully to spell done to Round 4. However, they indispensable big Iran connected Thursday and a nonaccomplishment could unfastened the doorway for Kyrgyzstan (6 points).

GROUP B
South Korea (16 points) apical the radical and are successful a steadfast position. A constituent distant to third-placed Iraq (12 points) successful Basra volition nonstop South Korea to the World Cup. However, if Iraq triumph determination volition beryllium conscionable a constituent betwixt the 2 countries and it volition spell down to Tuesday's last circular -- but South Korea bash person the cushion of playing bottom-of-the-table Kuwait (5 points), portion Iraq are successful Jordan.

If South Korea bushed Iraq, past Jordan (13 points) successful 2nd spot tin besides unafraid their archetypal World Cup summons with a triumph distant to fourth-placed Oman (10 points). Oman volition person different ideas, and volition look for a triumph that not lone puts them into contention for the apical two, but ensures astatine worst they volition beryllium successful Round 4.

Kuwait host Palestine (6 points) and if there's a victor successful that crippled there'll inactive beryllium anticipation of making the apical four.

GROUP C
Australia (13 points) big already-qualified Japan connected Thursday, knowing they volition beryllium astatine the World Cup with a triumph if third-placed Saudi Arabia (10 points) don't triumph astatine fifth-placed Bahrain (6 points). A gully could besides beryllium capable if Saudi Arabia suffer and fourth-placed Indonesia (9 points) don't bushed bottommost broadside China (6 points).

On Tuesday, there's a immense showdown betwixt Saudi Arabia and Australia successful Jeddah. If it does spell to the last day, Australia cognize that -- careless of Thursday's results -- a constituent should beryllium capable owed to their superior extremity difference.

Indonesia person a tiny accidental of the apical two, but are much apt to beryllium successful Round 4. However, they bash spell to Japan connected the last time which means Bahrain oregon China inactive person hope.

- Check retired the latest fixtures and results here | Latest tables

Round 4: The six teams successful this signifier volition beryllium drawn into 2 groups of three. They volition play each different once, truthful 2 matches, connected neutral crushed successful October 2025.

The radical winners instrumentality the last 2 automatic places astatine the World Cup.

The 2 runners-up proceed connected to Round 5.

Round 5: A two-legged necktie successful November 2025 to gain the spot successful the inter-confederation playoffs.

Europe (UEFA)
12 car + 4 via confederation playoff

Qualifying yet began connected March 21 erstwhile astir of the European teams who are not successful UEFA Nations League (UNL) enactment played their archetypal matches.

There are 55 European nations, though 54 volition vie arsenic Russia stay suspended owed to the penetration of Ukraine.

There are 12 groups of 4 oregon 5 teams, playing location and distant matches. The radical signifier qualifying process continues with double-headers successful June, September and October, and it's past completed successful November.

The 12 radical winners volition suffice straight for the World Cup, with the 12 runners-up entering the playoff system.

- Check retired the latest fixtures and results here | Tables

The last 4 places astatine the World Cup volition beryllium determined via the UEFA playoffs, to beryllium played successful March 2026. There is nary way to the World Cup done FIFA's inter-confederation playoffs.

The UEFA playoffs impact 16 teams: the 12 runners-up positive the 4 best-ranked radical winners from the UNL, who did not decorativeness successful the apical 2 successful World Cup qualifying. This creates 4 routes, each with 4 teams featuring a one-legged semifinal and a last for a spot astatine the World Cup.

The precedence bid for the 4 World Cup playoff places done the UNL is: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Norway, Wales, Czechia, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova, San Marino

Of the 14 teams to triumph their UNL groups, 10 of those were successful Pot 1 oregon 2 for the World Cup qualifying gully -- truthful connected ranking would decorativeness successful the apical 2 of their group. If that comes to pass, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova and San Marino would get a playoff place.

Seeding:
Pot 1: World Cup qualifying radical runners-up with the champion 4 records
Pot 2: As above, teams 5th to eighth
Pot 3: As above, teams ninth to 12th
Pot 4: UEFA Nations League teams

Semifinals:
Pot 1 vs. Pot 4
Pot 2 vs. Pot 3

North America, Central America, Caribbean (Concacaf)
3 car + 2 participate playoff

Usually, Concacaf would person six automatic places successful qualifying -- but for the 2026 finals 3 of the six are taken up by the hosts. That leaves 3 places to beryllium won, positive 2 spots successful the inter-confederation playoff path.

Concacaf saw 32 nations participate the contention to marque the finals.

Round 1: The 4 lowest-ranked Concacaf nations battled it retired successful two-legged ties. Anguilla and British Virgin Islands eliminated Turks and Caicos Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands respectively, some connected penalties.

Round 2: The apical 28-ranked nations, positive the 2 winners from Round 1, were drawn into six groups of 5 teams. Teams play each different lone once, alternatively than location and away. This signifier volition beryllium played successful 2 blocks, with the archetypal was held successful June 2024 with the 2nd to travel done the people of this week.

The six radical winners and six radical runners-up volition determination connected to Round 3.

- Check retired the latest fixtures and results here | Latest tables

Round 3: The 12 remaining teams volition beryllium drawn into 3 groups of 4 teams. This signifier volition beryllium played successful September, October and November 2025. The radical winners volition suffice for the World Cup, with the 2 runners-up with the champion grounds going connected to instrumentality portion successful the inter-confederation playoffs.

Africa (CAF)
9 car + 1 enters playoff

There were 54 FIFA-affiliated nations successful the draw.

However, Eritrea subsequently withdrew. Congo, successful the aforesaid group, were suspended by FIFA connected Feb. 6 owed to authorities interference, though they had mislaid each 3 radical games astatine the time.

Round 1: The teams are successful 8 groups of six nations, and 1 radical of 4 (with Eritrea and Congo removed.)

The 9 radical winners suffice for the World Cup.

This signifier began successful November 2023 and volition beryllium completed with rounds to beryllium played successful September and October.

The race to the World Cup is starting to instrumentality shape with qualifying astatine the halfway stage.

- Check retired the latest fixtures and results here | Latest tables

Round 2: The 4 champion runners-up volition participate playoffs (two semifinals and a final) to determine which 1 state volition spell to the inter-confederation playoffs. This signifier volition beryllium played successful November 2025.

Oceania (OFC)
1 car + 1 enters playoff

All 11 members of the OFC portion took part.

Round 1: The 4 lowest-ranked nations played a knockout format (two semis and a final) successful Samoa successful September 2024.

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga were successful this round. Samoa bushed Tonga 2-1 successful the last to advance.

Round 2: Samoa and the 7 top-ranked nations were drawn into 2 groups of 4 nations, with matches played successful October and November 2024. Games were held successful Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

The apical 2 countries successful each radical -- New Caledonia, Tahiti, New Zealand and Fiji -- went connected to Round 3.

- Check retired the results here | Final tables

Round 3: The 4 remaining countries past played a one-legged knockout format (two semis and a final) successful New Zealand successful March 2025.

Semifinals, March 21
New Caledonia 3-0 Tahiti
New Zealand 7-0 Fiji

Final, March 24
New Caledonia 0-3 New Zealand

As winners of the final, New Zealand person qualified for the World Cup, with losers New Caledonia moving onto the inter-confederation playoffs.

Inter-confederation playoffs (2 places)

The playoffs, to beryllium held successful March 2026, volition find the last 2 qualifiers.

Six countries volition instrumentality part. Each of the 5 confederations (apart from UEFA) volition supply 1 country. The big confederation (so for this variation Concacaf) receives a 2nd slot.

1 Africa
1 Asia
2 Concacaf
1 Oceania (New Caledonia)
1 South America

The 2 nations with the champion FIFA World Ranking volition beryllium seeded and spell consecutive into 1 of the 2 finals.

The 4 different countries volition beryllium drawn to play a semifinal, feeding done to play a effect for 1 of the 2 places astatine the World Cup.

The playoffs are owed to beryllium held successful 1 of the World Cup big nations arsenic a trial event.