Who can qualify for the World Cup this week? How Portugal, Germany, others can punch ticket 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 both European and North American 

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.

They are listed in estimated order of perceived likelihood by which the required results will come to pass.

Norway

Norway will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Norway avoid losing to Italy by 9+ goals

Norway's win over Estonia means they are almost there. Although Italy can still mathematically catch them at the top of group I, the Azzurri would need to win by an implausible margin to snatch the automatic qualifying place.

Belgium

Belgium will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Belgium beat Kazakhstan.

Belgium are almost there. A win over Kazakhstan will guarantee their place at the finals. Given their final game is against Liechtenstein, who lost all six of their first Group J fixtures by an aggregate score of 23-0, it is highly unlikely the Red Devils will fail to get the job done this month.

Portugal

Portugal will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Portugal defeat Armenia, OR...
• Portugal draw with Armenia AND Hungary do not beat Republic of Ireland, OR...
• Portugal lose AND Hungary vs. Ireland ends in a draw

Portugal suffered a shock loss to the Republic of Ireland on November 13 in which Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for violent conduct.

While that meant they failed to secure qualification, the Selecao know they should get the job done against Armenia on the final matchday.

Netherlands

Netherlands will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Netherlands avoid defeat to Lithuania

A 1-1 draw away to Poland preserved the Netherlands' three-point lead at the top of Group G heading into the final matchweek.

A huge goal difference advantage means that Ronald Koeman's side would still almost certainly be fine in the incredibly unlikely event of a defeat to Lithuania in Amsterdam.

Spain

Spain will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Spain defeat Georgia, AND Turkey drop points vs. Bulgaria.

Spain have Turkey hot on their heels, and while they still control their own destiny atop Group E, they have two difficult fixtures remaining.

Switzerland

Switzerland will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Switzerland defeat Sweden, AND Kosovo drop points vs. Slovenia, OR...
• Switzerland draw with Sweden, AND Kosovo lose to Slovenia.

A scoreless draw with Slovenia to conclude the October break meant Switzerland had to wait until November to confirm their place in the World Cup.

A win in the final match against Kosovo would put them through regardless of all other results, but they can also confirm their place before that by beating Sweden and getting some outside help.

Austria

Austria will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Austria defeat Cyprus, AND Bosnia & Herzegovina fails to defeat Romania.

Austria are just two points ahead of Bosnia & Herzegovina heading into the final international break. They can confirm qualification on the first day with a win plus some outside help from Romania, but the finale against Bosnia & Herzegovina will be the critical match.

Germany & Slovakia

Germany will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Germany avoid defeat to Slovakia

Slovakia will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Slovakia defeat Germany

After five games in Group A, Germany and Slovakia are all square on 12 points as they prepare to face one another in Leipzig in the final game of the section.

Slovakia beat Germany 2-0 in their opening qualifier, but an inferior goal difference means they must repeat that feat away from home to take top spot.

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.

Honduras

Honduras will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Honduras defeat Nicaragua, AND Costa Rica draw with Haiti.

With a two-point lead over Costa Rica, Honduras are on track to make the World Cup, but they need to remain steadfast across the last two matches of qualifying.

Jamaica

Jamaica will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if:

• Jamaica defeat Trinidad and Tobago, and Curacao lose to Bermuda.

Jamaica have a one-point lead at the top of their standings over Curacao, so they need some help if they are to qualify this week. Trinidad and Tobago are not yet out of the race, either, so this could be a tense game.

CAF

CAF World Cup qualifying for direct places at the 2026 tournament has concluded.

All that remains now are the playoffs to determine the continent's entrant to the intercontinental playoff, with Gabon, DR Congo, Cameroon, and Nigeria matching up in a four-team mini bracket to determine one nation that will play for a spot in the competition come March.

In the semifinals, Nigeria eliminated Gabon thanks to a 4-1 victory after extra time, and DR Congo snatched a late 1-0 victory over Cameroon. The final is on November 16.

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