With the 2026 FIFA World Cup a little over seven months away, the qualification picture is beginning to look much clearer.
Although UEFA was late in starting its cycle compared with some other confederations, the basic European qualifying section is now nearing a conclusion.
With the 2026 finals expanded to a 48-team field, more places for European sides are available than ever before, making this initial qualifying phase — plus the playoffs in early 2026 — of significant importance.
AllSportsPeople looks at how this all works.
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How does UEFA World Cup qualifying work?
The European qualifying section comprises 12 groups of four or five teams, with 54 nations competing overall. These groups are determined by the draw, which took place in Zurich on December 13, 2024.
All the teams were seeded into pots for the draw, with the strongest sides in Pot 1, and the weakest in Pot 5. This was organised according to the teams' FIFA ranking.
The qualifying process follows a traditional group-stage format, with all teams playing home and away games against the other nations in their group. Three points are awarded for a win, and one for a draw.
At the end of the group stage, the top-ranked team in each group qualifies automatically for the World Cup finals. Those in second place can advance to the playoffs next March.
How many European teams qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 tournament will be the first expanded to 48 teams, meaning there are 16 spots up for grabs for European nations, up three from the previous tournament.
The winners of each of the 12 groups will qualify automatically for the final tournament. The 12 runners-up earn a place in the playoff round, where they will join the four highest-ranked sides from the UEFA Nations League who did not manage to finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group.
That 16-team playoff mini-tournament will see each nation drawn into one of fourth paths. Each path consists of two one-legged semifinal and a final, and the winners of those finals will claim the last four UEFA places at the World Cup.
UEFA World Cup qualifying key dates
The UEFA World Cup qualifiers for 2026 began in March of 2025 and conclude in the November international break.
The playoff semifinals and finals are held on March 26 and March 31, 2026, just three months before the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico gets underway.
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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.