Four teams booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup during the international break, despite some European teams not yet starting their qualifying campaigns.
Japan were the first to seal their place, with three games to spare, by beating Bahrain 2-0
New Zealand followed them with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in the Oceania final. Iran went through following a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan, while defending champions Argentina were the fourth team to qualify before a 4-1 win over rivals Brazil.
That is a total of seven of the 48 World Cup spots decided, with co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico all qualifying automatically.
It will be more than a year before every single team is known.
The expanded size of the World Cup means more teams will qualify from each continent than ever before.
Asia:
Qualifying places: Eight, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already through: Japan, Iran
Asian qualifying started in October 2023 with the lower-ranked teams in action.
We are now in the third round, where the top two teams in three different groups qualify automatically.
Japan and Iran have already sealed their slots, while Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan and Australia currently occupy automatic qualification spots.
The teams who finish third and fourth in each six-team group go on to a fourth round where they have another chance to qualify. There is even a fifth round.
Africa:
Qualifying places: Nine, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already through: None
There are nine African groups of World Cup qualifying, each with six teams, which started in November 2023.
The top team in each group go through automatically. With four games to go, the current leaders are Egypt, DR Congo, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana.
The best four runners-up go into play-offs… for the chance to compete in the intercontinental play-offs.
North, Central American and Caribbean:
Qualifying places: Six (including three hosts), plus two into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already through: None through qualifying – USA, Canada and Mexico as co-hosts
The Concacaf qualifying takes a different look, with three of their biggest hitters not involved as they have qualified as hosts – but still plenty of spots up for grabs.
Like Europe, there is still a long way to go with qualifying not possible until the autumn.
There are six five-team groups, with the top two from each advancing to the next stage.
The third round then has three groups of four teams – with the winners of each group going to the World Cup and two best-ranked runners-up going into the intercontinental play-offs.
Europe:
Qualifying places: Sixteen
Teams already through: None
There are 12 groups – with the winners of each group qualifying for the World Cup and the 12 runners-up going into play-offs with the four best-ranked Nations League group winners that have not already qualified – for four extra places.
Europe is the only continent that does not have a team in the intercontinental play-offs.
Qualifying only started in March – with some teams not even having their first qualifiers until September while the Nations League continues.
The groups end in November, with the play-offs in March 2026.
Oceania:
Qualifying places: One, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already through: New Zealand
Oceania qualifying has already ended – with New Zealand beating New Caledonia 3-0 in the final.
New Zealand go through to the World Cup automatically, as a result of the expanded World Cup. Oceania usually only gets a play-off spot.
New Caledonia, a French overseas territory, will take place in intercontinental play-offs in March 2026 – including teams from Africa, Asia, South America and North America – with two out of six teams going through.
South America:
Qualifying places: Six, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already through: Argentina
South American qualifying comprises of a big group involving all 10 teams – and started in September 2023.
The top six all reach the World Cup, with seventh place going into the intercontinental play-offs.
With four out of 18 games left, Argentina – who have already qualified – Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia occupy the top six – with Venezuela seventh.
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