Qatar are the headline information within the newest group of confirmed entrants for subsequent yr’s FIFA 2026 World Cup following the newest spherical of qualifying matches.
The hosts of the 2022 version of the worldwide showpiece occasion reached the finals for the primary time by way of the qualification route, after they beat the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
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South Africa additionally clinched a tight group, with fellow African giants Nigeria pushed to the playoffs, on a tense ultimate day of group stage qualifiers on the continent. This got here a day after Cape Verde’s first qualification for the World Cup finals.
The European groups nonetheless have some technique to go to complete their qualifying teams, however the image has turn into far clearer with some progress already made.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a detailed take a look at how the qualifying course of stands across the globe:
Which groups are within the FIFA World Cup 2026?
After the newest spherical of qualifying matches, here’s a breakdown of the confirmed contenders from every of the six areas:
Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Europe: England
Oceania: New Zealand
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Who can nonetheless qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Africa: Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Nigeria will play off for the ultimate intercontinental spot from the continent. The Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) has but to announce the dates for these matches.
Asia: The UAE and Iraq will vie for one intercontinental playoffs spot after they compete over two legs within the ultimate stage of the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) qualifiers in November.
Europe: 53 of the 54 European groups vying for 16 qualification spots can nonetheless affirm their berths, alongside England, as their first-round matches will run till November 18.
North, Central America and the Caribbean: With the World Cup host nations taking three spots, solely three are left up for grabs. They are going to be selected November 18. Bermuda, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago have all superior to the third spherical. The three second-placed groups from every group will then combat for the intercontinental playoffs spot.
Oceania: New Caledonia have certified for the intercontinental playoffs.
South America: Bolivia have certified for the intercontinental playoffs, having missed out on one of many six automated qualifying positions.
28/48 ✅@Aramco | #WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/eaksBnrBYM
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 14, 2025
Which main groups have been eradicated from qualification?
Peru and Chile, who have been third-place finishers in 1962, have been the most important names to overlook out from the South America qualifiers, the place Venezuela have been additionally eradicated.
Though not thought-about a powerhouse in Asia, China will likely be upset to not attain their first finals since 2002.
Angola, Libya, Mali and Namibia will likely be amongst these upset to be eradicated from the African qualification.
Indonesia have been hoping to achieve solely a second World Cup, and made a valiant run to the fourth spherical of AFC qualification. However they are going to be upset to not have gone one step additional following their Dutch recruitment drive, which included their coach, Patrick Kluivert.
Bahrain, who topped their 2023 AFC Asian Cup group stage forward of South Korea, solely to be eradicated by Japan within the spherical of 16, will likely be deflated to have missed out on the prospect to showcase their abilities on the worldwide stage. Palestine have been solely seconds away from reaching the fourth spherical of the AFC qualifier and, following their historic run to the knockout stage of the final Asian Cup, may even be upset to not have no less than gone one step additional of their continental qualifiers.
When will all of the groups for the FIFA World Cup 2026 be confirmed?
European qualification rounds stretch past the present group levels to March, whereas the intercontinental playoff ultimate is scheduled for a similar month, so the ultimate 48 groups for the World Cup won’t be identified till lower than three months earlier than the match. March 31, 2026, is when all qualification will come to an finish.
When and the place is the draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The World Cup draw, as revealed by US President Donald Trump in August, will happen on December 5 on the Kennedy Heart in Washington, DC.
“It’s the most important, in all probability the most important occasion in sports activities, I assume,” stated Trump, who made the announcement in an Oval Workplace occasion the place he was joined by Vice President JD Vance and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Trump additionally didn’t rule out overseeing the draw himself.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 scheduled?
The match begins in Mexico Metropolis on June 11, and ends with the final in New Jersey on July 19.
