The 18 countries who can qualify for the 2026 World Cup this week

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 6 Oct 2025 11:54 BST
• 8 min read

Analysis

A total of 18 countries could seal qualification for the 2026 World Cup during the October international break.

The tournament, which takes place in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, will run from 11 June to 19 July next summer, and the qualifying phase is close to reaching its conclusion.

18 teams, including the three host countries, have already qualified for the 23rd World Cup in history and a further 18 nations could book their place at their tournament over the next nine days.

Below, we take a look at the 18 countries who could seal qualification before club football returns after the October international break.

AFC (Asia)

In Asia, six teams qualified by finishing first and second in their respective groups during the third round of qualifying. A further two teams will qualify by winning their group during a single round-robin format in October.

The runners-up will face each other in November to determine the AFC’s one representative at the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

Group A: Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Group B: Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Indonesia.

CAF (Africa)

In Africa, the nine group winners automatically qualify for the tournament, while the four best runners-up will advance to a play-off stage to determine the CAF's one representative at the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

Group A: Egypt will qualify if they beat Djibouti or if Burkina Faso fail to beat Sierra Leone.

Group B: Senegal will qualify if they beat South Sudan and DR Congo fail to beat Togo.

Group C: Benin, South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda could all qualify in October depending on results.

Group D: Cape Verde will qualify if they beat Libya or if they draw against Libya and Cameroon fail to beat Mauritius.

Group E: Morocco have already qualified.

Group F: Ivory Coast will qualify if they beat Seychelles and Gabon lose to Gambia.

Group G: Algeria will qualify if they beat Somalia, if they draw against Somalia and Uganda and Mozambique both fail to win or if Uganda and Mozambique both lose.

Group H: Tunisia have already qualified.

Group I: Ghana will qualify if they beat the Central African Republic and Madagascar fail to beat Comoros.

CONCACAF (North and Central America)

In North and Central America, the three group winners will automatically qualify for the tournament, while the two best runners-up will be CONCACAF's two representatives at the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

Group A: Nobody can qualify in October.

Group B: Jamaica will qualify if they beat Curacao and Bermuda, Curacao fail to beat Trinidad and Tobago, and Trinidad and Tobago fail to beat both Bermuda and Curacao.

Group C: Honduras will qualify if they beat Costa Rica and Haiti, and Nicaragua vs Haiti and Costa Rica vs Nicaragua are both draws.

CONMEBOL (South America)

CONMEBOL qualifying ended during the September international break. Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay will all compete at the tournament, while Bolivia will aim to book their place at the World Cup by winning the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

OFC (Oceania)

OFC qualifying ended during the March international break. New Zealand beat New Caledonia in the final to seal their place at the tournament and New Caledonia will aim to book their place at the World Cup by winning the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

UEFA (Europe)

In Europe, the 12 group winners automatically qualify for the tournament. The 12 group runners-up and the four best Nations League group winners that failed to finish in the top two of their qualifying group will enter the play-offs.

Four play-off paths will be drawn and the four winners will qualify for the World Cup.

Group A: Slovakia will qualify if they beat Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, Germany fail to beat Luxembourg, and Northern Ireland vs Germany is a draw.

Group B: Switzerland will qualify if they beat Sweden and Slovenia, and Kosovo fail to beat Slovenia and Sweden.

Group C: Nobody can qualify in October.

Group D: France will qualify if they beat Azerbaijan and Iceland, and Iceland vs Ukraine is a draw. Or, they beat Azerbaijan and Iceland, Iceland lose to Ukraine, and Ukraine fail to beat Azerbaijan.

Group E: Spain will qualify if they beat Georgia and Bulgaria, Turkey fail to beat Bulgaria, and Turkey vs Georgia is a draw.

Group F: Portugal will qualify if they beat the Republic of Ireland and Hungary, and Armenia fail to beat Hungary and the Republic of Ireland.

Group G: Nobody can qualify in October.

Group H: Nobody can qualify in October.

Group I: Norway will qualify if they beat Israel and Italy fail to beat Estonia and Israel.

Group J: Nobody can qualify in October.

Group K: England will qualify if they beat Latvia and Serbia fail to beat both Albania and Andorra. Or, if they draw vs Latvia, Serbia vs Albania is a draw and Serbia fail to beat Andorra.

Group L: Croatia will qualify if they beat Czechia and Gibraltar, and Czechia fail to beat the Faroe Islands. Or, if they beat Czechia and draw vs Gibraltar, and Czechia lose to the Faroe Islands.

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