European Nations Battle for Historic 16 World Cup Spots in Expanded 2026 Tournament

Unprecedented Qualifying Campaign Underway

With 16 European teams set to book their tickets to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, 55 UEFA member nations have entered the qualification process. Teams have been divided into 12 groups (Groups A–L), with either 4 or 5 nations per group.

Qualification Format and Structure

Teams play home and away matches against other nations in their group, with group winners automatically qualifying for the World Cup. Additional qualification opportunities are available through playoffs for the best-performing runners-up.

The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup is scheduled for June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be hosted across 16 cities in three North American countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Current Campaign Highlights

The qualifying matches have been high-scoring affairs, with 252 goals scored in 80 matches, averaging 3.15 goals per match as of September 7, 2025.

Norway’s campaign has been particularly noteworthy, with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard leading their nation’s charge. They’ve made an impressive start with a 4-0 record, including a decisive 3-0 victory over Italy in early June. The Italian team has faced additional challenges, with manager Luciano Spaletti being dismissed.

Looking Ahead

The group-stage matches will continue through specific windows: September 4-9, October 9-14, and November 13-18, 2025. The final draw for the World Cup will take place in December 2025 at a location to be determined in the United States.

A total of 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with the 12 group winners securing direct qualification. The remaining four spots will be determined through playoffs involving the 12 group runners-up.