Who can qualify for the World Cup this week? State of play, permutations for all regions in race for 2026 FIFA finals

For some nations, qualification to the FIFA World Cup every four years is a baseline expectation of the fanbase.

Other countries, however, will be thrilled to find themselves in the field every four years — or at all.

The opportunity is better than ever to make that happen as the 2026 World Cup will be the first in history expanded all the way to 48 participants at the final tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

AllSportsPeople walks you through who has already been confirmed to participate at next summer's showcase, and who could clinch a place soon with many spots still up for grabs.

With South American and African qualifying now complete aside from the determination of CAF participants at the intercontinental playoffs, all eyes turn to the European and North American sections.

A reminder: a reference to a "magic number" means any combination of points gained by the team in question, or points dropped by the side directly below them, would secure a place at the finals.

MORE: How the 2026 World Cup draw will work and who is sorted into which pot

Who can qualify for the World Cup this week?

JUMP TO: Europe | Africa | North and Central America | Asia | Teams already qualified

Here, AllSportsPeople breaks down how the qualification picture looks across the different federations heading into the November international break.

Some, like CONMEBOL, have concluded their qualifying phases. Others, such as UEFA, have plenty at stake.

UEFA

The following European nations are in a position to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this week, with a specific set of results required.

Belgium

Belgium will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Belgium beat Liechtenstein, OR...
• They draw or lose their game, and Wales vs. North Macedonia is a draw, OR...
• They draw with Liechtenstein, AND Wales or North Macedonia win but not enough to have superior goal difference

Belgium passed up the chance to qualify with a game to spare after they could only draw with Kazakhstan, but they still comfortably have things in their own hands.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• They beat Wales AND Belgium lose, OR...
• Belgium draw AND North Macedonia win by enough to overturn their goal-difference deficit

Wales

Wales will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• They beat North Macedonia AND Belgium lose, OR...
• Belgium draw AND Wales win by enough to overturn their goal-difference deficit

Austria

Austria will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Austria avoid defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group H will come down to a straight shootout between Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ralf Rangnick's team have the edge, as a draw will be enough for them to finish top of the table.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Austria

Spain

Spain will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Spain avoid defeat to Turkey, OR...
• They lose to Turkey by a small enough margin to remain ahead on goal difference

Spain have Turkey hot on their heels, but they simply need to avoid losing by seven goals or more to claim top spot.

Turkey

Turkey will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Turkey beat Spain by 7+ goals

Switzerland

Switzerland will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Switzerland avoid defeat to Kosovo, OR...
• They lose to Kosovo but by a small enough margin to retain their goal-difference advantage

Switzerland's emphatic win over Sweden means they have matters firmly in their own hands. Only an implausibly one-sided defeat to Kosovo will see them lose top spot.

Kosovo

Kosovo will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Kosovo beat Switzerland by a big enough margin to overturn a goal-difference deficit of +11

Denmark

Denmark will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Denmark avoid defeat to Scotland

Group C is another straight shootout thanks to Denmark's surprise draw with Belarus. If they avoid losing to Scotland, they will qualify; if Scotland win, the Tartan Army will be heading to North America.

Scotland

Scotland will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Scotland beat Denmark

CONCACAF

There was a chance for Honduras and Jamaica to secure qualification in October, but neither was able to snatch the opportunity.

As a reminder, USA, Canada and Mexico automatically qualified as host nations.

Suriname

Suriname will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Suriname do not lose to Guatemala AND Panama do not beat El Salvador, OR...
• Suriname and Panama win, but Suriname retain their +3 goal-difference advantage, OR...
• Suriname and Panama lose, but Suriname retain their +3 goal-difference advantage

Suriname and Panama are level on points at the top of Group A, but the former have the advantage in terms of goal difference. Defeat Guatemala, and they will likely qualify.

Panama

Panama will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Panama beat El Salvador AND Suriname do not defeat Guatemala, OR...
• Panama draw AND Suriname lose, OR...
• Suriname and Panama win, and Panama overturn the goal-difference deficit

Honduras

Honduras will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Honduras beat or draw with Costa Rica AND Haiti do not beat Nicaragua, OR...
• Honduras and Haiti win, but the former retains goal-difference superiority

Honduras are level on points with Haiti at the top of Group C, so they need to match Haiti's result and make sure their 2+ goal-difference advantage is not erased.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Costa Rica beat Honduras AND Haiti do not beat Nicaragua

Haiti

Haiti will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Haiti beat Nicaragua AND Honduras do not win against Costa Rica, OR...
• Haiti win by a sufficient margin to overtake Honduras on goal difference

Jamaica

Jamaica will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Jamaica beat Curacao

Jamaica's draw with Trinidad and Tobago last time out means they have surrendered the initiative to Curacao in Group B. A win in this final game will see them qualify for the World Cup; fail to do so, and their opponents will be celebrating.

Curacao

Curacao will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Curacao avoid defeat against Jamaica

CAF

CAF World Cup qualifying for direct places at the 2026 finals has concluded. However, DR Congo still have a chance to earn a spot in the group phase via the intercontinental playoffs. They defeated Nigeria on penalties in the final of the CAF playoff tournament this month.

AFC

With the eight direct qualifiers now selected from the Asian confederation, there is now just one more match in qualifying to determine the one intercontinental playoff participant.

After finishing second in their three-team groups in the fourth round, United Arab Emirates and Iraq will contest a two-legged playoff matchup to determine the lone participant.

The first leg ended 1-1, with the return game taking place on November 18.

Teams already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Places still to be determined at the 2026 FIFA World Cup