2026 World Cup European Qualifiers draw: what we know so far
Lars Foster
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
With the UEFA Nations League group stage has ended, preparations are underway for a new qualification tournament, this time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dailysports has compiled all the essential details on the format and schedule for Europe’s World Cup qualifying path.
What’s the format of the qualifiers?
Due to the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams, UEFA's allocation has increased from 13 to 16 slots. The revamped Nations League format now includes quarterfinals for League A, as well as promotion and relegation matches across Leagues A, B, and C.
As a result, the qualification tournament format has been modified. Instead of the previous ten groups of five or six teams, there will be 12 groups with either four or five teams. Nations League Final Four participants will be placed in smaller groups of four teams. Matches for five-team groups will kick off in March 2025, while qualifying matches for four-team groups will begin in September 2025.
Each team will play in a home-and-away round-robin format. Group winners will secure a spot in the World Cup, while 12 second-placed teams will enter the playoffs.
How will the playoffs work?
Playoffs will also involve Nations League performance. Any group winners in any Nations League group who finish below second in the qualifiers will join the 12 teams that placed second in the qualifiers. These teams will be divided into four pools of four. Each pool will feature a single-leg semifinal followed by a single-leg final. The winner of each final will qualify for the World Cup.
The qualifying tournament will conclude in November 2025, with the playoffs scheduled for March 2026.
How will the seeding pots be organized for the draw?
The Nations League results will impact not only the playoffs, but also the first seeding pot for the qualifiers draw. Nations League quarter finalists from League A will be placed in the top pot, regardless of FIFA ranking, joined by the four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA rankings that did not make the quarterfinals.
This means England, currently ranked third in FIFA despite playing in League B, is guaranteed a spot in Pot 1. The remaining four pots will be organized based on FIFA rankings alone.
When is the qualifiers draw?
The draw for the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers will take place on December 13 in Zurich.
Key dates for the Qualifiers
- Group Stage Draw: December 13, 2024
- Group Stage Matches: March – November 2025
- Playoff Matches: March 26-31, 2026
