Posted inSports

All you need to know about the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and playoffs

by enterpriseam adminEgypt Edition
Read Full Issue

⚽ Our fellow football fans, the international break is finally over. Domestic leagues in Egypt and Europe return to action this weekend, but the qualifying results of the 2026 World Cup are still the talk of the town.

Multiple teams from Europe and North and Central America sealed their spots in the World Cup yesterday and earlier today, and global playoff participants are now confirmed. This brings the tally to 42 nations heading to the next World Cup, with 22 more competing for the six remaining spots: 16 teams in the European playoffs, and six in the global playoff.

Qualified teams from Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, and Cape Verde.

Qualified teams from Europe: Spain, France, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, Scotland, and Austria.

Qualified teams from South America: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Qualified teams from Asia: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia, and Uzbekistan.

Qualified teams from North and Central America: Panama, Haiti, and Curcaçao.

The participating hosts: The US, Mexico, and Canada.

Four teams from the 16 competing nations in the European playoffs will qualify for the World Cup finals: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine, Wales, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Albania, Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Sweden, Romania, Northern Ireland, and North Macedonia.

The teams are split into four groups of four, and will be playing in a knockout format, with each group sending one team to the World Cup.

Two teams from the following six nations in the global playoffs will qualify for the World Cup finals:

  • From Africa: DR Congo
  • From Asia: Iraq
  • From South America: Bolivia
  • From CONCACAF: Jamaica and Suriname
  • From Oceania: New Caledonia

The top two teams in FIFA rankings — DR Congo and Iraq — will be skipping the first round of playoffs, and the other four will meet in the semifinals. The victors will face Congo and Iraq in two finals to determine which two nations reach the World Cup.

FIFA will conduct the draw for both the global and European playoffs tomorrow, Thursday, 20 November, at their headquarters in Switzerland.

Tags: