Home Sports UEFA Preliminary Draw Sets the Stage for FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualifiers

UEFA Preliminary Draw Sets the Stage for FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualifiers

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
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The road to the historic FIFA World Cup 2026™, set to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, is officially underway. Europe’s 54 hopeful teams have been drawn into groups at the UEFA Preliminary Draw in Zurich, setting the stage for thrilling battles in the qualifying rounds.

A Historic Opportunity

For the first time, 16 spots are available for UEFA representatives at the expanded 48-team World Cup. This increase offers more nations a chance to compete on football’s biggest stage, but the journey will be anything but easy.

The group stage will commence in March 2025 and conclude in November 2025, featuring 12 groups with four or five teams each. Group winners will secure their place in the World Cup directly. The runners-up, along with four top-ranked UEFA Nations League teams that didn’t qualify, will battle it out in a 16-team play-off in March 2026 to claim the remaining four spots.

Exciting Matchups Await

The draw has already promised some electrifying clashes, even with some Pot 1 teams to be determined after the UEFA Nations League (UNL) quarter-finals in March. These are some of the most exciting matchups to look forward to:

  • England vs. Serbia
  • Switzerland vs. Sweden
  • Belgium vs. Wales

These encounters highlight the depth of competition in European football and the unpredictable nature of World Cup qualification.

UEFA Preliminary Draw Groups

 FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Here’s a breakdown of the groups:

  • Group A: Italy or Germany (UNL QF4 winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
  • Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
  • Group C: Denmark or Portugal (UNL QF3 defeated), Greece, Scotland, Belarus
  • Group D: Croatia or France (UNL QF2 winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
  • Group E: Netherlands or Spain (UNL QF1 winner), Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria
  • Group F: Denmark or Portugal (UNL QF3 winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
  • Group G: Netherlands or Spain (UNL QF1 defeated), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
  • Group H: Cyprus, San Marino, Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Group I: Italy or Germany (UNL QF4 defeated), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
  • Group J: Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia
  • Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
  • Group L: Croatia or France (UNL QF2 defeated), Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar

Format and Play-offs

The group stage winners will advance directly to the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The second-place teams, alongside the best four UEFA Nations League group winners who haven’t qualified, will vie for the remaining spots in a high-stakes play-off.

A Journey to Remember

As Europe’s top teams prepare for this grueling journey, fans can expect incredible matches, emotional moments, and the possibility of underdog stories. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers promise to be as historic as the tournament itself.

Get ready, football fans—the road to glory starts now!

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