Serbia vs Finland: Battle for World Cup Dreams in Group G Qualifier

The Road to 2026

The qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is intensifying as teams compete for places in the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. With the qualification process well underway, some nations have already secured their spots while others continue their campaign.

Recent Performance and Group Standings

Finland has shown mixed results in their recent matches, including a notable 2-1 victory over Poland and a 0-2 loss to the Netherlands. For Serbia, they face tough competition as they’re considered one of England’s main rivals for an automatic qualification spot.

Qualification Format and Stakes

UEFA has been allocated 16 nations for the 2026 World Cup, with the 12 group winners qualifying directly for the tournament. The remaining four berths will be determined through play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.

Path to Qualification

The teams are playing traditional home-and-away matches following ‘all play all’ principles, with all groups set to conclude in November 2025. For teams that don’t qualify directly, there will be play-offs involving 16 teams drawn into four paths, with matches played as single-leg semi-finals and finals in March 2026.

Looking Ahead

The final draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place in December 2025 in the United States, with the tournament set to kick off on June 11, 2026, marking a new era in World Cup history with its expanded format across North America.