European international locations will discover out their path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup within the United States, Mexico and Canada when the draw is made on Friday, Dec. 13.
Here’s every little thing you have to know in regards to the qualifying marketing campaign for the UEFA confederation.
When is the World Cup qualifying draw?
The draw will happen on Friday, Dec. 13. The time has but to be confirmed.
What are the draw pots?
The eight groups who participate within the UEFA Nations League (UNL) quarterfinals (QF) have been routinely positioned in Pot 1, together with England, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria.
This is as a result of the UNL QF winners should be in a gaggle of 4 and have the worldwide dates free in March and June.
As it turned out, the 12 groups in Pot 1 are the highest 12 groups by FIFA World Ranking anyway.
All different pots are decided by FIFA World Ranking.
The UNL QF groups seem as winners of / losers of ties (extra to come back on this.)
How does the draw work?
It’s just a little difficult, so stick with us.
Along with the eight groups who’re within the UNL QFs from Pot 1 there are two, Austria and Belgium, who will play a promotion/relegation playoff (PO) in March. Only England and Switzerland is not going to want March free.
From Pots 2, 3 and 4 there are 14 international locations are within the POs in March.
In the unique draw laws all groups who have to play POs have been to be prioritised into a gaggle of 4. FIFA up to date the laws on the finish of November to take away this clause. It was deemed unfair as a result of PO groups in Pots 2, 3 and 4 have been going to be compelled into tougher teams — probably towards UNL QF winners from Pot 1, and high-ranked fellow PO groups from the opposite pots.
It’s not such excellent news for the six groups in Pot 2 who don’t want a PO, because the outdated laws ensured they’d go into a gaggle of 5 and routinely keep away from the 4 strongest international locations as UNL QF winners.
This is what we all know for sure initially of the draw:
– The 4 UNL QF winners should go into a gaggle of 4
– A bunch of 5 can comprise just one UNL QF losers or PO group.
The draw begins will all groups from Pot 1, by way of to Pot 5. The four-team teams (A to F) are crammed first, topic to the draw situations for UNL groups.
What else ought to we glance out for?
Pot 1
England and Switzerland usually are not assured to be in a gaggle of 5, however the chances are 75%. There are eight potential teams for them, and solely two comprise 4 groups.
Pot 2
Six non-PO: Sweden, Wales, Poland, Romania, Czechia, Norway
Six PO: Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, Slovakia
As a gaggle of 5 can solely comprise one PO group, what occurs to England and Switzerland is the deciding issue.
In the unlikely occasion that each England and Switzerland find yourself in a gaggle of 4 groups, all Pot 2 PO groups must go into a gaggle of 4, and all non-PO groups in Pot 2 into a gaggle of 5.
If one among England and Switzerland are in a gaggle of 4, that would go away just one potential group of 4 for the non-PO groups.
If each England and Switzerland are in a gaggle of 4, it leaves two potential teams in a gaggle of 4 for the non-PO groups.
Pot 3
Seven non-PO: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Israel, Montenegro, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia
Five PO: Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Georgia, Iceland
By the time we get to Pot 3 it is potential all five-team teams will have already got a PO group, which routinely locations the 5 PO groups on this pot into a gaggle of 4.
Pot 4:
Twelve non-PO: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg
Three PO: Armenia, Bulgaria, Kosovo
There’s even much less likelihood that there will likely be a five-team group obtainable to the three PO groups on this pot.
The UNL PO groups in Pot 5 is not going to play their ties till March 2026, so are unaffected for the World Cup draw.
How is it going to work for UEFA Nations League QF winners?
As the QF of the UNL are held in March, it will not be identified till then which 4 international locations should have June free for the finals, and be in a gaggle of 4.
So the draw could have the QF ties as winners or losers placeholders of every tie, as proven within the pots.
It means eight World Cup teams is not going to know their Pot 1 opponents till March.
Quarterfinals
Netherlands vs. Spain
Croatia vs. France
Denmark vs. Portugal
Italy vs. Germany
What is the format of European World Cup qualifying?
There are 54 energetic nations in UEFA. The fifty fifth, Russia, is not going to participate as a result of ongoing struggle in Ukraine.
The 54 groups will likely be drawn into 12 teams — six will comprise 5 international locations, and 6 could have 4 nations.
When are the video games performed?
There are 10 worldwide dates, in pairs in March, June, September, October and November.
Teams in a gaggle of 5 will start qualifying in March. However, if a five-team group incorporates a UNL QF or PO group, they should have the March dates off. Other international locations could have two spare dates for worldwide friendlies.
Teams in a gaggle of 4 will begin qualifying in September and the dates in March and June will likely be free for UNL QF, PO or worldwide friendlies.
How many European groups qualify for the expanded World Cup?
Under the outdated format UEFA offered 13 nations. That will increase by three to 16 for the 2026 version.
How do groups qualify for the World Cup?
The 12 group winners go direct to the World Cup.
The 12 runners-up will go into the playoffs, joined by 4 groups from the final version of the UEFA Nations League, to battle it out for the ultimate 4 spots.
How do UEFA Nations League groups make the World Cup playoffs?
The 14 group winners from the 2024 version of the UNL have been ranked from Nations League A by way of to League D. The first 4 UNL group winners who don’t end within the high two of their World Cup qualifying group will get a playoff.
The precedence order for the 4 World Cup playoff locations is:
Spain
Germany
Portugal
France
England
Norway
Wales
Czechia
Romania
Sweden
North Macedonia
Northern Ireland
Moldova
San Marino
Of the 14 groups to win their UNL teams, 10 of these are in Pot 1 or 2 for the draw — so on rating would end within the high two of their group. If that involves move, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova and San Marino would get a playoff place.
If, after going by way of all of the group winners, there are nonetheless playoff locations obtainable then it reverts to general UNL League rating — that means it runs by way of the entire of League A reasonably than by way of all group runners-up.
How do the World Cup playoffs work?
Teams will likely be seeded on efficiency for one-legged ties, to be performed in March 2026.
Pot 1: World Cup qualifying group runners-up with one of the best 4 data
Pot 2: As above, groups fifth to eighth
Pot 3: As above, groups ninth to twelfth
Pot 4: UEFA Nations League groups
Semifinals:
Pot 1 vs. Pot 4
Pot 2 vs. Pot 3
The higher-ranked groups will likely be at dwelling within the semifinals.
The winners will meet within the last, with a draw performed upfront to find out which group is at dwelling.
The winners of the 4 playoff finals qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
