San Marino Could Be Just Two Matches Away from the World Cup: How Is This Possible?

San Marino recently celebrated its second official victory in history, winning its group in League D of the Nations League. This achievement not only promoted the team to League C but also granted them a remarkable opportunity to compete for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Details: The new qualification format for the 2026 World Cup in UEFA introduces a unique pathway. Four of the best Nations League group winners, who fail to finish in the top two of their respective qualification groups, will join 12 runners-up from the standard qualifiers in a playoff tournament.

This means that if all teams seeded in the first and second pots of the qualifiers finish in the top two of their groups, San Marino could secure a playoff spot. They would compete alongside North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, and Moldova for one of the final berths.

Reminder: The draw for European qualification for the 2026 World Cup will take place on December 13 in Zurich, Switzerland. It was previously confirmed that Russia will not be allowed to participate in the qualification process.