The UEFA section of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finally got underway in March.
While Africa, Asia and South America are among those confederations to have made substantial progress in their qualification pools, European nations will see theirs condensed into a 12-month period.
The group stage begins in March 2025 and will run into November, with the playoff round being staged in March 2026. After then, we will know which 16 European sides will compete at the final tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Teams in UEFA World Cup qualifying 2026
There are 54 teams in total in UEFA's World Cup qualifying section. They were split into five pots for the draw, depending on their position in the FIFA rankings: the strongest sides are in Pot 1, with the weakest in Pot 5.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 | Pot 5 |
| Spain | Ukraine | Scotland | Bulgaria | Moldova |
| Netherlands | Sweden | Slovenia | Luxembourg | Malta |
| France | Turkey | Republic of Ireland | Belarus | Andorra |
| Croatia | Wales | Albania | Kosovo | Gibraltar |
| Portugal | Hungary | North Macedonia | Armenia | Liechtenstein |
| Denmark | Serbia | Georgia | Kazakhstan | San Marino |
| Italy | Poland | Finland | Azerbaijan | |
| Germany | Romania | Iceland | Estonia | |
| England | Greece | Northern Ireland | Cyprus | |
| Belgium | Slovakia | Montenegro | Faroe Islands | |
| Switzerland | Czechia | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Latvia | |
| Austria | Norway | Israel | Lithuania | |
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UEFA World Cup qualifying group stage schedule, standings
Group matches started in March 2025 and conclude in November.
Some of the group placements were not determined until the UEFA Nations League knockout phase had reached the semifinal stage.
X = Clinched automatic 2026 World Cup berth
z = Clinched spot in UEFA playoff
Group A
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Germany -x | 6 | 5-1-0 | +13 | 15 |
| 2. | Slovakia -z | 6 | 4-2-0 | -2 | 12 |
| 3. | Northern Ireland | 6 | 3-3-0 | +1 | 9 |
| 4. | Luxembourg | 6 | 0-6-0 | -12 | 0 |
Group A match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Slovakia 2-0 Germany |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Luxembourg 1-3 Northern Ireland |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Luxembourg 0-1 Slovakia |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Germany 4-0 Luxembourg |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Northern Ireland 2-0 Slovakia |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Slovakia 2-0 Luxembourg |
| Nov. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Luxembourg 0-2 Germany |
| Nov. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Slovakia 1-0 Northern Ireland |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Germany 6-0 Slovakia |
Group B
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Switzerland | 5 | 4-0-1 | +12 | 13 |
| 2. | Kosovo | 5 | 3-1-1 | +1 | 10 |
| 3. | Slovenia | 5 | 0-2-3 | -5 | 3 |
| 4. | Sweden | 5 | 0-4-1 | -8 | 1 |
Group B match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Switzerland 4-0 Kosovo |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Slovenia 2-2 Sweden |
| Sep. 8, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Kosovo 2-0 Sweden |
| Sep. 8, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Switzerland 3-0 Slovenia |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Sweden 0-2 Switzerland |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Kosovo 0-0 Slovenia |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Sweden 0-1 Kosovo |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Slovenia 0-0 Switzerland |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Switzerland 4-1 Sweden |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Slovenia 0-2 Kosovo |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Sweden vs. Slovenia |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Kosovo vs. Switzerland |
Group C
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Denmark | 5 | 3-0-2 | +11 | 11 |
| 2. | Scotland | 5 | 3-1-1 | +4 | 10 |
| 3. | Greece | 5 | 2-3-0 | -2 | 6 |
| 4. | Belarus | 5 | 0-4-1 | -13 | 1 |
Group C match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Denmark 0-0 Scotland |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Greece 5-1 Belarus |
| Sep. 8, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Belarus 0-2 Scotland |
| Sep. 8, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Greece 0-3 Denmark |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Scotland 3-1 Greece |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Belarus 0-6 Denmark |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Scotland 2-1 Belarus |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Denmark 3-1 Greece |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Denmark 2-2 Belarus |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Greece 3-2 Scotland |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Scotland vs. Denmark |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Belarus vs. Greece |
Group D
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | France -x | 6 | 5-0-1 | +12 | 16 |
| 2. | Ukraine -z | 6 | 3-2-1 | -1 | 10 |
| 3. | Iceland | 6 | 2-3-1 | +2 | 7 |
| 4. | Azerbaijan | 6 | 0-5-1 | -13 | 1 |
Group D match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Ukraine 0-2 France |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Iceland 5-0 Azerbaijan |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Azerbaijan 1-1 Ukraine |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | France 2-1 Iceland |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | France 3-0 Azerbaijan |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Iceland 3-5 Ukraine |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Iceland 2-2 France |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Ukraine 2-1 Azerbaijan |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Azerbaijan 0-2 Iceland |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | France 4-0 Ukraine |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Ukraine 2-0 Iceland |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Azerbaijan 1-3 France |
Group E
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Spain | 5 | 5-0-0 | +19 | 15 |
| 2. | Turkey | 5 | 4-1-0 | +5 | 12 |
| 3. | Georgia | 5 | 1-4-0 | -7 | 3 |
| 4. | Bulgaria | 5 | 0-5-0 | -17 | 0 |
Group E match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Georgia 2-3 Turkey |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Bulgaria 0-3 Spain |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Georgia 3-0 Bulgaria |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Turkey 0-6 Spain |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Spain 2-0 Georgia |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Bulgaria 1-6 Turkey |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Spain 4-0 Bulgaria |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Turkey 4-1 Georgia |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Turkey 2-0 Bulgaria |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Georgia 0-4 Spain |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Bulgaria vs. Georgia |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Spain vs. Turkey |
Group F
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Portugal -x | 6 | 4-1-1 | +13 | 13 |
| 2. | Republic of Ireland -z | 6 | 3-2-1 | +2 | 10 |
| 3. | Hungary | 6 | 2-2-2 | +1 | 8 |
| 4. | Armenia | 6 | 1-5-0 | -16 | 3 |
Group F match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| Sep. 6, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Armenia 0-5 Portugal |
| Sep. 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Republic of Ireland 2-2 Hungary |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Armenia 2-1 Republic of Ireland |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Hungary 2-3 Portugal |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Hungary 2-0 Armenia |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Portugal 1-0 Republic of Ireland |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Portugal 2-2 Hungary |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Armenia 0-1 Hungary |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Republic of Ireland 2-0 Portugal |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Hungary 2-3 Republic of Ireland |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Portugal 9-1 Armenia |
Group G
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Netherlands -x | 8 | 6-0-2 | +23 | 20 |
| 2. | Poland -z | 8 | 5-1-2 | +7 | 17 |
| 3. | Finland | 8 | 3-4-1 | -6 | 10 |
| 4. | Malta | 8 | 1-5-2 | -15 | 5 |
| 5. | Lithuania | 8 | 0-5-3 | -9 | 3 |
Group G match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| March 21, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Poland 1-0 Lithuania |
| March 21, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Malta 0-1 Finland |
| March 24, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Poland 2-0 Malta |
| March 24, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Lithuania 2-2 Finland |
| June 7, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Malta 0-0 Lithuania |
| June 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Finland 0-2 Netherlands |
| June 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Finland 2-1 Poland |
| June 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Netherlands 8-0 Malta |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Netherlands 1-1 Poland |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Lithuania 1-1 Malta |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Lithuania 2-3 Netherlands |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Poland 3-1 Finland |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Finland 2-1 Lithuania |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Malta 0-4 Netherlands |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Netherlands 4-0 Finland |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Lithuania 0-2 Poland |
| Nov. 14, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Finland 0-1 Malta |
| Nov. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Poland 1-1 Netherlands |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Malta 2-3 Poland |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania |
Group H
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Austria | 7 | 6-1-0 | +18 | 18 |
| 2. | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 7 | 5-1-1 | +10 | 16 |
| 3. | Romania | 7 | 3-3-1 | +3 | 10 |
| 4. | Cyprus | 8 | 2-4-2 | 0 | 8 |
| 5. | San Marino | 7 | 0-7-0 | -31 | 0 |
Group H match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| March 21, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Romania 0-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| March 21, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Cyprus 2-0 San Marino |
| March 24, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-1 Cyprus |
| March 24, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | San Marino 1-5 Romania |
| June 7, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Bosnia & Herzegovina 1-0 San Marino |
| June 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Austria 2-1 Romania |
| June 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Romania 2-0 Cyprus |
| June 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | San Marino 0-4 Austria |
| Sep. 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | San Marino 0-6 Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Sep. 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Austria 1-0 Cyprus |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Cyprus 2-2 Romania |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Bosnia & Herzegovina 1-2 Austria |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Cyprus 2-2 Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Austria 10-0 San Marino |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | San Marino 0-4 Cyprus |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Romania 1-0 Austria |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Cyprus 0-2 Austria |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-1 Romania |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Austria vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Romania vs. San Marino |
Group I
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Norway -x | 8 | 8-0-0 | +32 | 24 |
| 2. | Italy -z | 8 | 6-2-0 | +9 | 18 |
| 3. | Israel | 8 | 4-4-0 | -1 | 12 |
| 4. | Estonia | 8 | 1-6-1 | -13 | 4 |
| 5. | Moldova | 8 | 0-7-1 | -27 | 1 |
Group I match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| March 22, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Moldova 0-5 Norway |
| March 22, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Israel 2-1 Estonia |
| March 25, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Israel 2-4 Norway |
| March 25, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Moldova 2-3 Estonia |
| June 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Norway 3-0 Italy |
| June 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Estonia 1-3 Israel |
| June 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Italy 2-0 Moldova |
| June 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Estonia 0-1 Norway |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Moldova 0-4 Israel |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Italy 5-0 Estonia |
| Sep. 8, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Israel 4-5 Italy |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Norway 11-1 Moldova |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Norway 5-0 Israel |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Estonia 1-3 Italy |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Italy 3-0 Israel |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Estonia 1-1 Moldova |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Norway 4-1 Estonia |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Moldova 0-2 Italy |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Italy 1-4 Norway |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Israel 4-1 Moldova |
Group J
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Belgium | 7 | 4-0-3 | +15 | 15 |
| 2. | North Macedonia | 7 | 3-0-4 | +9 | 13 |
| 3. | Wales | 7 | 4-2-1 | +4 | 13 |
| 4. | Kazakhstan | 8 | 2-4-2 | -4 | 8 |
| 5. | Liechtenstein | 7 | 0-7-0 | -24 | 0 |
Group J match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| March 22, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Liechtenstein 0-3 North Macedonia |
| March 22, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Wales 3-1 Kazakhstan |
| March 25, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | North Macedonia 1-1 Wales |
| March 25, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Liechtenstein 0-2 Kazakhstan |
| June 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Wales 3-0 Liechtenstein |
| June 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | North Macedonia 1-1 Belgium |
| June 9, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. | Kazakhstan 0-1 North Macedonia |
| June 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Belgium 4-3 Wales |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. | Kazakhstan 0-1 Wales |
| Sep. 4, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Liechtenstein 0-6 Belgium |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | North Macedonia 5-0 Liechtenstein |
| Sep. 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Belgium 6-0 Kazakhstan |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. | Kazakhstan 4-0 Liechtenstein |
| Oct. 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Belgium 0-0 North Macedonia |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Wales 2-4 Belgium |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | North Macedonia 1-1 Kazakhstan |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Kazakhstan 1-1 Belgium |
| Nov. 15, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Liechtenstein 0-1 Wales |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Wales vs. North Macedonia |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Belgium vs. Liechtenstein |
Group K
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | England -x | 8 | 8-0-0 | +22 | 24 |
| 2. | Albania -z | 8 | 4-2-2 | +2 | 14 |
| 3. | Serbia | 8 | 4-3-1 | -1 | 13 |
| 4. | Latvia | 8 | 1-5-2 | -10 | 5 |
| 5. | Andorra | 8 | 0-7-1 | -13 | 1 |
Group K match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| March 21, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | England 2-0 Albania |
| March 21, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Andorra 0-1 Latvia |
| March 24, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | England 3-0 Latvia |
| March 24, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Albania 3-0 Andorra |
| June 7, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Andorra 0-1 England |
| June 7, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Albania 0-0 Serbia |
| June 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Serbia 3-0 Andorra |
| June 10, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Latvia 1-1 Albania |
| Sep. 6, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Latvia 0-1 Serbia |
| Sep. 6, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | England 2-0 Andorra |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Serbia 0-5 England |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Albania 1-0 Latvia |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Latvia 2-2 Andorra |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Serbia 0-1 Albania |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Latvia 0-5 England |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Andorra 1-3 Serbia |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Andorra 1-0 Albania |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | England 2-0 Serbia |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Serbia 2-1 Latvia |
| Nov. 16, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Albania 0-2 England |
Group L
| | Team | Matches | W-L-D | GD | Pts. |
| 1. | Croatia -x | 8 | 7-0-1 | +22 | 22 |
| 2. | Czechia -z | 8 | 5-2-1 | +10 | 16 |
| 3. | Faroe Islands | 8 | 4-4-0 | +2 | 12 |
| 4. | Montenegro | 8 | 3-5-0 | -9 | 9 |
| 5. | Gibraltar | 8 | 0-8-0 | -25 | 0 |
Group L match schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Match |
| March 22, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Montenegro 3-1 Gibraltar |
| March 22, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Czechia 2-1 Faroe Islands |
| March 26, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Montenegro 1-0 Faroe Islands |
| March 26, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Gibraltar 0-4 Czechia |
| June 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Czechia 2-0 Montenegro |
| June 6, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Gibraltar 0-7 Croatia |
| June 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Croatia 5-1 Czechia |
| June 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Faroe Islands 2-1 Gibraltar |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Montenegro 0-2 Czechia |
| Sep. 5, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Faroe Islands 0-1 Croatia |
| Sep. 8, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Gibraltar 0-1 Faroe Islands |
| Sep. 8, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Croatia 4-0 Montenegro |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Czechia 0-0 Croatia |
| Oct. 9, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Faroe Islands 4-0 Montenegro |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Faroe Islands 2-1 Czechia |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Croatia 3-0 Gibraltar |
| Nov. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Gibraltar 1-2 Montenegro |
| Nov. 14, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Croatia 3-1 Faroe Islands |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Czechia 6-0 Gibraltar |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | 8:45 p.m. | Montenegro 2-3 Croatia |
When are the UEFA World Cup qualifying playoffs?
The playoffs take place in March of 2026.
The 16 teams involved will be split into four paths, with the overall winners of each path taking a place at the finals in North America.
The 12 group runners-up will qualify for the playoff, with the 16-team field being rounded out by four participants pulled from the most recent edition of the UEFA Nations League. Three of those four participants are known, with Romania, Sweden, and Northern Ireland qualifying via this circuitous route, while whichever of Wales or North Macedonia fall short of the second place spot in Group J will be the fourth.
| Nation | Qualified Via | Draw Pot |
| Slovakia | Group A runner-up | |
| Switzerland/Kosovo | Group B runner-up | |
| Denmark/Scotland | Group C runner-up | |
| Ukraine | Group D runner-up | |
| Spain/Turkey | Group E runner-up | |
| Republic of Ireland | Group F runner-up | |
| Poland | Group G runner-up | |
| Austria/Bosnia & Herzegovina | Group H runner-up | |
| Italy | Group I runner-up | |
| Wales/North Macedonia | Group J runner-up | |
| Albania | Group K runner-up | |
| Czechia | Group L runner-up | |
| Wales/North Macedonia | Nations League qualifier | |
| Romania | Nations League qualifier | |
| Sweden | Nations League qualifier | |
| Northern Ireland | Nations League qualifier | |
When is the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11, 2026 and runs through to July 19, 2026.
The opening game will see co-hosts Mexico face as-yet-unconfirmed opposition at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Fellow host nations Canada and the United States play their opening matches the following day: Canada's fixture will be at BMO Field in Toronto, while the USMNT's first game will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
