FIFA confirms UEFA World Cup qualifying draw details

FIFA have officially announced the date and time for the UEFA World Cup qualifying draw ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The expanded tournament will feature 48 teams, with UEFA receiving 16 qualification spots, an increase from 13 in previous editions.

Despite this expansion, the European qualification format has been streamlined.

The 54 UEFA-affiliated nations will be divided into 12 groups, containing either four or five teams.

Each team will play home-and-away fixtures, earning three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss.

The 12 group winners will secure automatic qualification to the World Cup.

The second-placed teams will join a play-off stage, along with the four highest-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners who have not yet qualified.

These 16 teams will compete for the final four UEFA spots.

Teams in groups of five will start qualifiers in March 2025, while those in groups of four will begin in September 2025.

This streamlined process reflects FIFA’s efforts to accommodate the expanded tournament while maintaining competitive balance.