FIFA World Cup™ Qualifying Explained

Who, What, When, Where

• Who: The biggest change coming this year is the expansion to 48 teams, up from the traditional 32. This gives more countries the chance to qualify and compete for the FIFA World Cup™.

• What: Qualifying has been ongoing for three years, the first match kicking off in South America in March of 2023. The final two spots will be decided by the inter-confederation play-offs.

• When: Starting on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, this tournament will extend over a month, with the championship game taking place on July 19th, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

• Where: The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is set to take place across North America, reaching cities like Toronto, Houston, Mexico City, and more.

FIFA Confederations

Of the 6 competing regions, they are broken out into continental confederations. Each confederation is allocated spots based on how many teams are competing, their playing level, and how they've done in the past.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, there are two qualifying spots/slots:

• Direct Spots: These are guaranteed entry in the tournament. Teams that earn a direct spot have successfully navigated their confederation's qualifying tournament and are automatically set to compete.

• Playoff Spots: Teams that earn a playoff spot have a second chance to qualify in the inter-confederation tournament. They are not guaranteed a place in the FIFA World Cup™, but will compete for the final spots against other playoff teams. Only two teams will qualify for the tournament from the inter-confederation tournament.

Inter-Confederation Playoffs: Final Chance

The final two positions in the 48-team tournament will be decided by the inter-confederation playoffs. This is a mini-tournament featuring six teams from five confederations (all but Europe, as they are not allotted a playoff position). It will take place in March 2026, likely in one of the host countries.

Playoff Format

The tournament is held as a single-elimination knockout bracket.

• The two highest-ranked teams, based on the FIFA Men's World Ranking, receive a bye and are automatically set to compete in the playoff finals.

• The remaining four teams compete in two single-leg semi-final matches.

• Winners of the two semi-finals advance to face the two seeded teams in separate single-leg finals.

• The final winners will claim the last two spots in the FIFA World Cup™.

FIFA World Cup™ Draw

After a majority of the qualifying matches are completed, the draw for the FIFA World Cup™ finals will take place. The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ draw is currently scheduled for December 5th, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

1. Pots: To ensure a balanced competition, the 48 qualified teams (or their placeholders) are sorted into four pots based on their FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the highest-ranked teams in Pot 1 and the lowest-ranked teams and playoff winners in Pot 4. The USA, Canada, and Mexico are automatically placed into Pot 1 due to their host status. Pot sorting takes place before the Drawing ceremony.

2. Groups: During the ceremony, teams are drawn one by one from each of the four pots and sorted into 12 groups of four teams labeled A-L, starting with Pot 1 and ending with Pot 4. Host groups are assigned to groups A, B, and D to ensure competitive balance and fairness. This process is guided by key rules:

   Proximity: Teams of the same confederation cannot be drawn into the same group, with the exception of UEFA.

   Placeholders: For spots that have not yet been filled by the time of the draw (like play-off winners), FIFA uses placeholders for each respective position.

3. Second Ball: For each team drawn into groups, a second ball is often drawn to determine their position in the group (1, 2, 3, or 4). This is done to help finalize the match schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has qualified so far? 

Since qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ has been underway for a few years, several nations have already stamped their tickets to North America. Qualifying occurs in waves, with the next round of matches beginning in September 2025. As of late August, the following teams have qualified.

• CONCACAF (Hosts): United States, Canada, Mexico

• AFC: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Australia, Jordan

• CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador

• OFC: New Zealand

Who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup™? 

Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup™, defeating France for their third championship. As they’ve already qualified for the 2026 tournament, they will be back to defend their title.

The FIFA World Cup™ brings fans together from every corner of the globe for the ultimate sports experience. From the excitement of the qualifying teams to the final championship game, it’s a can't-miss event. Stay tuned for more details, and head to your local SCHEELS to gear up for the tournament.