2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

international football competition

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification determines which teams will join Canada, Mexico, and the United States as hosts in the tournament. It started on September 7, 2023, with three matches in the CONMEBOL zone.[1]

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Tournament details
Dates7 September 2023 – March 2026
Teams211 (from 6 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played10
Goals scored20 (2 per match)
Attendance422,308 (42,231 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Neymar
Brazil Rodrygo
Ecuador Félix Torres
Uruguay Nicolás de la Cruz
(2 goals each)
2022
2030
All statistics correct as of 12 September 2023.


Qualified countries

change
 
  Teams qualified
  Teams whose qualification status has yet to be decided
  Teams failed to qualify
  Teams withdrew or suspended
  Not a FIFA member
Team Method of

qualification

Date of

qualification

Finals

appearance

Last

time qualified

Current

consecutive appearances[note 1]

Previous best

performance

  Canada Hosts 14 February 2023[note 2] 3rd 2022 2 Group stage (1986, 2022)
  Mexico Hosts 14 February 2023[note 2] 18th 2022 9 Quarter-finals (1970, 1986)
  United States Hosts 14 February 2023[note 2] 12th 2022 2 Third place (1930)

Notes

  1. Including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Although the United bid was selected on 13 June 2018, the automatic berths allocated to the hosts were not confirmed until a decision by the FIFA Council on 14 February 2023.[2]

Qualification process

change

On 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation scheme for the new 48-team final format.

Summary of qualification

change
 
Confederation Direct slots Play-off slots Teams started Teams eliminated Teams qualified Qualifying start date Qualifying next match date Qualifying end date
AFC 8 1 46 0 0 12 October 2023 12 October 2023 November 2025
CAF 9 1 54 0 0 13 November 2023 13 November 2023 18 November 2025
CONCACAF 3+3 2 32+3 0 0+3 March 2024 March 2024 November 2025
CONMEBOL 6 1 10 0 0 7 September 2023 12 October 2023 September 2025
OFC 1 1 11 0 0 September 2024 September 2024 March 2025
UEFA 16 0 55 0 0 March 2025 March 2025 March 2026
Play-offs 2 (6) 0 0 March 2026 March 2026 March 2026
Total 45+3 6 208+3 0 0+3 7 September 2023 12 October 2023 March 2026

Top goalscorers

change

There have been 20 goals scored in 10 matches, for an average of 2 goals per match.

2 goals

1 goal

References

change
  1. "Arrancan las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas hoy con tres partidos. ¿Por dónde verlos?". futbol.com.uy - Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. "FIFA Council highlights record breaking revenue in football". FIFA. 14 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.