World Cup 2026: How are the qualifiers going and who qualifies?

In addition to the three host teams, 18 teams already have a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, let’s review the new format and how the qualifiers are going for the FIFA Date in October.

They are missing 246 days to start the 2026 World Cupwhich will be held in United States, Mexico and Canada. The inauguration of the biggest festival in world football will take place at the Azteca Stadium on June 11 and the Mexican National Team will be responsible for playing the first match of the competition.

With a renewed format, the World 2026 It promises to be spectacular as it will be the first tournament that will feature 48 teams, so fans will be able to enjoy more than 100 matches.

This September FIFA Date we live again the excitement of the World Cup qualifiers, but… How will the new format work? How is it classified? How are the qualifiers going? Who is already classified?

This is everything you need to know about it.

When does the 2026 World Cup start and how many games will it have?

The World Cup It will begin on June 11, 2026, with its inaugural match at the Azteca Stadium, and the new champion will be known on July 19.

In total 104 games will be played, 40 more than in the last edition of the tournament. FIFAthis new scheme establishes that the finalists must have played 8 games.

What is the new format like?

The 48 participating teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4 each, with the first two in each section qualifying along with the 8 best third parties to the round of 32, the phase where the direct elimination duels begin.

What are the cities that will host the matches?

Atlanta, Boston
Mexico City
dallas
Philadelphia
Guadalajara
Houston
Kansas City
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Miami
Monterey
New York
New Jersey
seattle
toronto
vancouver

What are the stadiums for the 2026 World Cup?

How many places does each confederation have?

AFC (Asia): Eight direct places + one for the world play-offs
CAF (Africa): Nine direct places + one for the world play-offs
Concacaf (North America, Central America and the Caribbean): Six direct places (three hosts and three classified in the Qualifiers) + 2 for the play-offs
CONMEBOL (South America): Six direct places + 1 for the world play-offs
OFC (Oceania): One direct place + 1 world play-off
UEFA (Europe): 16 direct places

*Information from FIFA.com

Which teams have already qualified?

How are the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup going?

In addition to those already classified (United States, Canada and Mexico)the confederation will have three more direct places and two to the intercontinental playoff. Currently, the playoffs of the CONCACAF are in Round 2 and the top 28 nations, along with the two winners from Round 1, were divided into six groups of five teams.

Teams face each other only once. The six group winners and six runners-up will advance to Round 3. This stage is played in two blocks: the first will be held in June 2024, and the second will take place in June 2025. The remaining 12 teams will be divided into three groups of four teams. The group winners will qualify for the World Cup while the two runners-up with the best performance will participate in the intercontinental playoffs. This phase will be held in September, October and November 2025.

See the complete CONCACAF qualifying table here

October FIFA Date Calendar

Date: October 9

Date: October 10

Bermuda vs. Trinidad and Tobago: 3:00 p.m. CDMX / 5:00 p.m. ET
Suriname vs. Guatemala: 3:00 p.m. CDMX / 5:00 p.m. ET
Curacao vs. Jamaica: 5:00 p.m. CDMX / 7:00 p.m. ET
El Salvador vs. Panama: 7:00 p.m. CDMX / 9:00 p.m. ET

Date: October 13

Date: October 14

Curacao vs. Trinidad and Tobago: 5:00 p.m. CDMX / 7:00 p.m. ET
Jamaica vs Bermuda: 6:00 p.m. CDMX / 8:00 p.m. ET
Panama vs. Surinam: 8:00 p.m. CDMX / 10:00 p.m. ET
El Salvador vs. Guatemala: 8:00 p.m. CDMX / 10:00 p.m. ET

How did the CONMEBOL qualifiers end?

South America was the first Confederation to start the qualifying phase, in September 2023. The format was the same as always: round-robin in two rounds. It ended in September 2025 and distributed six direct places and one to the intercontinental playoff. During the FIFA Date in March, Argentina, current World Champion, secured a place in the World Cupthanks to a combination of results, which included the overwhelming victory of the albiceleste over Brazil.

In June, Brazil and Ecuador They joined the classifieds and in September, Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay They stamped his ticket. Bolivia he kept the ticket to the playoffs, while Venezuela, Peru and Chili They said goodbye.

See the complete CONMEBOL classification table here

How are the CAF (Africa) qualifiers going?

The CAF Qualifierssome of the toughest in the world, began in November 2023. The African continent will have nine direct places and one to the intercontinental playoff. The 53 teams are distributed into eight groups of six nations and one group of four. The first place in each group qualifies for the World Cup. This stage will end in October 2025.

*Congo were suspended by FIFA on February 6 due to government interference, even though they had lost all three group stage matches by then.

The second best teams will enter the playoff round (two semifinals and one final) to decide which team will go to the intercontinental playoff. This stage will be played in November 2025.

See the complete CAF qualifying table here

How are the AFC (Asia) qualifiers going?

Asia has the most complicated route to the World Cup, which includes a double group stage to define the eight qualifiers directly.

After the first two rounds were played, the classification of the AFC The third round began with 18 nations that were divided into three groups of six teams. This round of the Asian qualifiers began in September 2024 and will run until June 2025. The group winners and runners-up will occupy the first six places in the World Cup 2026 while the six nations that finish in third and fourth place will be divided into two groups of three, they will play each other once, that is, two matches, on neutral ground in October 2025 and the group winners will obtain the last two automatic places for the World and the losers will play a two-legged eliminator in November 2025 to earn a place in the intercontinental playoffs.

During the FIFA Date of March 2025, Japan became the first team, behind the host countries, to qualify for the World Cup 2026. On Tuesday, March 25, Iran got his classification.

Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan and Australia They secured their ticket on the FIFA date of June 2025.

Date: October 8

Oman vs. Taste: 9:00 a.m. CDMX/11:00 a.m. ET
Indonesia vs. Saudi Arabia: 11:15 a.m. CDMX/1:15 p.m. ET
UAE vs. Oman: 11:15 a.m. CDMX/1:15 p.m. ET
Iraq vs. Indonesia: 1:30 p.m. CDMX/ 3:30 p.m. ET
Qatar vs. UAE: 11:45 a.m. CDMX/1:45 p.m. ET
Saudi Arabia vs. Iraq: 1:30 p.m. CDMX/3:30 p.m. ET

How did the OF (Oceania) qualifiers go?

For the first time it will have at least one direct qualifier thanks to the increase in participants. The World Cup path began in September 2024 and will also have a representative in the intercontinental playoff.

During the FIFA Date of March 2025, New Zealand became the second selection, behind Japan and the host countries, to qualify for the tournament. For its part, New Caledonia must prepare for the international playoff that will be played in March 2026 and in which five teams in total will participate: 1 from Africa, 1 from Asia, 2 from Concacaf and 1 from South America.

How are the UEFA (Europe) qualifiers going?

UEFA began the path towards World Cup on March 21 with the majority of the teams, who are not in the final phase of the Nations League, playing the first two days.

It will have 16 places for the World Cup United States, Canada and Mexico and the format will be with 12 groups of four or five teams, which will play round-trip matches. The winners of each group will qualify directly for the World Cup. The Group Phase process will be completed in November 2025.

The last four UEFA places will be filled through a playoff round, which will be played in March 2026. This round will involve 16 teams (the 12 second best from the group stage and the four highest-ranked Nations League teams that did not finish in the top two of the World Cup qualification. This will create four routes, each with four teams with a single-match semi-final and a final that will determine those classified.

See the complete UEFA qualifying table here.

October FIFA Date Calendar

Date: October 9