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One Year Out: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification state of play

One Year Out: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification state of play

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The next FIFA World Cup will kick off precisely one year from now on June 11, 2026. After an expansion to the tournament, a record 48 teams will compete on football’s biggest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Over a quarter of the competitors are now known after the latest international break. Here is the state of play across each of the six confederations.

By Neel Shelat

AFC: Uzbekistan and Jordan seal debuts

The AFC has the longest World Cup qualification format, now spanning five rounds. The first round kicked off less than a year after the end of the previous World Cup, but things really started to get serious in the third round, where qualification spots started to get decided.

The 18 remaining teams were divided into three groups of six. The top two in each group have earned a direct ticket to North America at the end of the round robin fixtures, while the teams in third and fourth place stay alive and advance to a further stage.

There were some big stories in each of the groups. Group A saw Iran cruise through along with Uzbekistan, who will make their World Cup debut next year. This historic achievement marks the culmination of decades of hard work for the White Wolves, as their investment in domestic youth development has paid off big time. Behind them, the UAE and previous hosts Qatar advanced to the fourth round.

South Korea topped Group B ahead of Jordan, who will also be debutantes at the World Cup next year. They too have been quietly building towards this success, having reached their first major final at the Asian Cup last year. Iraq finished third and Kuwait came last while Oman and Palestine faced off for fourth place on the final day. The Lions of Canaan needed a win to advance and looked on course to get it until the very last minute of the match, when they conceded an equaliser from the penalty spot.

Group C was the relatively most straightforward, as Japan finished comfortably clear at the top and were followed by Australia, who have made it to their sixth consecutive World Cup. Saudi Arabia had to settle for third place and will be joined by Indonesia in the fourth round.

CONMEBOL: Only three teams miss out

With just 10 teams in the confederation, CONMEBOL have the simplest qualification format with just one round. The expanded World Cup now sees over half of the nations earn direct progression, while one inter-confederation play-off spot is on offer as well.

As a result, there are few big surprises in South America. With the last two rounds of fixtures left, defending champions Argentina have already sealed top spot in the group by some margin. Ecuador and Brazil secured direct qualification this week, with the former putting an impressive campaign together while the Seleção have had a more turbulent time.

Marcelo Bielsa-led Uruguay are also as good as qualified along with Paraguay, who will return to the biggest stage for the first time since 2010.

Behind them, Copa América finalists Colombia still have a job to do to be sure of the last direct spot. Venezuela – the only CONMBEOL side to have never reached a World Cup – are currently a point ahead of Bolivia in the play-off position, so they have a lot to play for in the final rounds. Chile will miss out and will almost certainly be joined by Peru.

OFC: New Zealand get direct ticket

The expanded format must have been most widely welcomed by the OFC, which finally has a direct ticket to the World Cup. They decided it by putting the top two teams from the two second-round groups into play-offs, from where regional giants New Zealand unsurprisingly emerged as the victors. New Caledonia put up a spirited fight against them in the final, though, and will get a second bite at the cherry in the inter-confederation play-offs.

CONCACAF: Stage set for final round

CONCACAF qualifying is very different this time around since the three big-hitters have all been granted qualification as host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico). Three other direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off places are on offer in the third round, for which the 12-team stage has just been set.

Each of the remaining top 11 teams in the federation (by FIFA rankings) are all through, namely Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Suriname. So, the real big surprise is that 168th-ranked Bermuda advanced from their group, though they will face an even tougher challenge now after the three third round groups are drawn.

UEFA: First round finally starting

UEFA were the last to get their World Cup qualification campaign properly underway. In fact, the six four-team groups are yet to play a single match, but some intriguing stories are brewing elsewhere.

Most notably, Italy might well miss out for a third successive time after falling behind in the battle for the direct qualification spot in their group following a 3-0 humbling in Norway. That result is set to cost Luciano Spalletti his job when a successor is found, with the play-offs looking most likely for the Azzurri due to Norway having already recorded four wins from their opening four games.

The other groups seem straightforward enough so far. The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium (who survived a scare against Wales), England and Croatia all look well on course to earn direct qualification.

CAF: Surprises brewing in the first round

There were no World Cup qualification fixtures in Africa this month, with the CAF qualifiers already at the halfway stage. As things stand, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, AFCON champions the Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia are all on course to win their groups and earn the prized direct tickets.

Senegal, DR Congo, and potential debutantes Sudan are locked in a three-way battle for a direct place and a CAF play-off spot in Group B, while Nigeria are in serious trouble in Group C as they currently sit fourth. Cape Verde are a point ahead of Cameroon in their group in what is shaping up to be an unforgettable campaign for the Blue Sharks. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every 2026 World Cup qualifier on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

One Year Out: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification state of play

The next FIFA World Cup will kick off precisely one year from now on June 11, 2026. After an expansion to the tournament, a record 48 teams will compete on football’s biggest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Over a quarter of the competitors are now known after the latest international break. Here is the state of play across each of the six confederations.

By Neel Shelat

AFC: Uzbekistan and Jordan seal debuts

The AFC has the longest World Cup qualification format, now spanning five rounds. The first round kicked off less than a year after the end of the previous World Cup, but things really started to get serious in the third round, where qualification spots started to get decided.

The 18 remaining teams were divided into three groups of six. The top two in each group have earned a direct ticket to North America at the end of the round robin fixtures, while the teams in third and fourth place stay alive and advance to a further stage.

There were some big stories in each of the groups. Group A saw Iran cruise through along with Uzbekistan, who will make their World Cup debut next year. This historic achievement marks the culmination of decades of hard work for the White Wolves, as their investment in domestic youth development has paid off big time. Behind them, the UAE and previous hosts Qatar advanced to the fourth round.

South Korea topped Group B ahead of Jordan, who will also be debutantes at the World Cup next year. They too have been quietly building towards this success, having reached their first major final at the Asian Cup last year. Iraq finished third and Kuwait came last while Oman and Palestine faced off for fourth place on the final day. The Lions of Canaan needed a win to advance and looked on course to get it until the very last minute of the match, when they conceded an equaliser from the penalty spot.

Group C was the relatively most straightforward, as Japan finished comfortably clear at the top and were followed by Australia, who have made it to their sixth consecutive World Cup. Saudi Arabia had to settle for third place and will be joined by Indonesia in the fourth round.

CONMEBOL: Only three teams miss out

With just 10 teams in the confederation, CONMEBOL have the simplest qualification format with just one round. The expanded World Cup now sees over half of the nations earn direct progression, while one inter-confederation play-off spot is on offer as well.

As a result, there are few big surprises in South America. With the last two rounds of fixtures left, defending champions Argentina have already sealed top spot in the group by some margin. Ecuador and Brazil secured direct qualification this week, with the former putting an impressive campaign together while the Seleção have had a more turbulent time.

Marcelo Bielsa-led Uruguay are also as good as qualified along with Paraguay, who will return to the biggest stage for the first time since 2010.

Behind them, Copa América finalists Colombia still have a job to do to be sure of the last direct spot. Venezuela – the only CONMBEOL side to have never reached a World Cup – are currently a point ahead of Bolivia in the play-off position, so they have a lot to play for in the final rounds. Chile will miss out and will almost certainly be joined by Peru.

OFC: New Zealand get direct ticket

The expanded format must have been most widely welcomed by the OFC, which finally has a direct ticket to the World Cup. They decided it by putting the top two teams from the two second-round groups into play-offs, from where regional giants New Zealand unsurprisingly emerged as the victors. New Caledonia put up a spirited fight against them in the final, though, and will get a second bite at the cherry in the inter-confederation play-offs.

CONCACAF: Stage set for final round

CONCACAF qualifying is very different this time around since the three big-hitters have all been granted qualification as host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico). Three other direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off places are on offer in the third round, for which the 12-team stage has just been set.

Each of the remaining top 11 teams in the federation (by FIFA rankings) are all through, namely Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Suriname. So, the real big surprise is that 168th-ranked Bermuda advanced from their group, though they will face an even tougher challenge now after the three third round groups are drawn.

UEFA: First round finally starting

UEFA were the last to get their World Cup qualification campaign properly underway. In fact, the six four-team groups are yet to play a single match, but some intriguing stories are brewing elsewhere.

Most notably, Italy might well miss out for a third successive time after falling behind in the battle for the direct qualification spot in their group following a 3-0 humbling in Norway. That result is set to cost Luciano Spalletti his job when a successor is found, with the play-offs looking most likely for the Azzurri due to Norway having already recorded four wins from their opening four games.

The other groups seem straightforward enough so far. The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium (who survived a scare against Wales), England and Croatia all look well on course to earn direct qualification.

CAF: Surprises brewing in the first round

There were no World Cup qualification fixtures in Africa this month, with the CAF qualifiers already at the halfway stage. As things stand, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, AFCON champions the Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia are all on course to win their groups and earn the prized direct tickets.

Senegal, DR Congo, and potential debutantes Sudan are locked in a three-way battle for a direct place and a CAF play-off spot in Group B, while Nigeria are in serious trouble in Group C as they currently sit fourth. Cape Verde are a point ahead of Cameroon in their group in what is shaping up to be an unforgettable campaign for the Blue Sharks. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every 2026 World Cup qualifier on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.