World Cup qualifying is hurtling towards a conclusion with some of the final places ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico up for grabs over the coming days.
So far, 30 teams have booked their places in what has already been a historic campaign for three first-time qualifiers, with Jordan, Uzbekistan and the Cape Verde islands all through to the 48-team finals.
England, France, Croatia and Portugal are the only European teams to have qualified so far but the other group winners will be gradually confirmed in the next few days as the first round of qualifying finally concludes.
Elsewhere, we have largely reached play-off time across the rest of the world; and that’s before the rest of the European play-offs and inter-continental play-offs in March.
Confusingly, those games will take place after the World Cup draw is made on Friday 5 December.
Europe
Qualifying places available: 16
Teams already qualified: England, France, Croatia, Portugal
With England, France, Croatia and Portugal through, the nine other group winners (who all receive a direct pass to the World Cup) will be confirmed over the final two rounds of qualifying. The 12 group runners-up then go through to the play-offs in March, alongside four teams who earned a play-off spot with their Nations League performances, and four more teams will qualify for the World Cup. This requires a group-by-group breakdown.
Group A
Germany are still in the driving seat, although they face a final round shootout with Slovakia to decide who qualifies automatically. The two teams are level atop the group on 12 points and face each other in Leipzig on Monday evening. Germany only need to to draw due to their superior goal difference whereas Slovakia need a shock away win to pip them at the post.
Northern Ireland are out of the running for a top-two finish after Tomas Bobcek’s 91st-minute winner for Slovakia in Kosice but Michael O’Neill’s men are into the play-offs thanks to their Nations League performance. Luxembourg are bottom of the group on nil points and have scored just a single goal in qualifying.
Group B
Switzerland are set to qualify automatically, given they have a three-point lead over Kosovo plus a massive advantage in goal difference. Switzerland beat Sweden on Saturday and now travel to Kosovo – who will be in the play-offs – on the final day.
Sweden have parachuted in Graham Potter and his only chance of leading the team to the World Cup comes through Nations League qualification to the play-offs.
Group C
Scotland were beaten 3-2 in Greece on Saturday night to seemingly throw away their hopes of automatic World Cup qualification, only for Belarus to stun Denmark with a 2-2 draw and keep the group alive.
Steve Clarke’s side will now meet Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday night in a huge showdown to decide who books their place at the World Cup and who has to settle for the play-offs. Scotland must win, or else the Danes will take top spot.
Group D
France are through after beating second-placed Ukraine 4-0 at the Parc des Princes on Thursday. Iceland face Ukraine on Sunday in a showdown for the play-off spot.
Group E
Spain are looking pretty a three-point lead over Turkey and a massive advantage in goal difference. Their win against Georgia on Saturday was enough to lock in qualification, barring a major collapse at home against Turkey on Tuesday. Turkey will be in the play-offs.
Group F
Oh my goodness. After Ireland’s stunning win over Portugal revived their hopes ahead of a must-win trip to Hungary, Troy Parrott completed his hat-trick in the final minute to send the Irish into the play-offs at the expense of the hosts, who were seconds from going through. Without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal wrapped up top spot with a 9-1 win over Armenia.
Group G
The Netherlands have all but qualified with a three-point lead, and a vast goal difference advantage (+19 to +6), over Poland heading into the final round of matches. The Netherlands are at home to Lithuania on the final day, needing a point to mathematically qualify but in reality will go through regardless of result, while Poland, who have locked up second place and thus a play-off spot, go to Malta.
Group H
This will go down to the wire with first-placed Austria hosting second-placed Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. Bosnia are two points behind and must win to steal the automatic qualification place.
Group I
Norway are set to qualify automatically after their 4-1 win over Estonia on Thursday night left them three points clear of Italy at the top of the group. The top two meet on Sunday but the Italians would have to win by nine goals to usurp Norway, whose goal difference is an extraordinary +29 from seven games, mainly thanks to Erling Haaland’s tally of 15 goals (the next highest scorer in Uefa qualifying has five). It means Italy are heading to the play-offs.
Group J
Belgium are set to qualify automatically for the World Cup, as they lead the group by two points and play minnows Liechtenstein in their final game on Tuesday.
Wales are level on points with second-placed North Macedonia, who the Welsh host on Tuesday night. That game is crucial as it will decide who goes through to the play-offs.
Group K
England are through as group winners and Albania have claimed the play-off spot ahead of Serbia, who lost 2-0 at Wembley on Thursday night.
Group L
Croatia became the third European team, after England and France, to book their spot at the World Cup with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over surprise package the Faroe Islands on Friday evening. They are top of the pile on 19 points, six clear of second-place Czech Republic with one round of matches left.
The Faroes’ valiant defeat to Croatia means they have completed their eight matches and can no longer catch the Czechs – who are one point ahead and host Gibraltar on the final day – in second.
Americas
Qualifying places available: Six (including three hosts USA, Canada and Mexico), plus two into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already qualified: None through qualifying (USA, Canada and Mexico automatically as co-hosts)
The three group winners, who qualify directly for the World Cup, will be decided over these upcoming two rounds of qualifying matches, as will the trio of group runners-up, with the best two of those reaching the intercontinental play-offs.
Group A
It’s all to play for in Group A, as Suriname lead Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador. The four teams go into the final two rounds separated by just three points, with Suriname and Panama leading on six, Guatemala on five and El Salvador on three.
Suriname have never qualified for the World Cup and play El Salvador and Guatemala in their final two games. Panama have the same fixtures, but in reverse. Guatemala and El Salvador are also attempting to qualify for the first time.
Group B
It’s a big week for Steve McClaren’s Jamaica. With two games to go against Trinidad and Tobago and then Curacao, Jamaica are just two wins away from qualifying for the men’s World Cup for the first time since the 1998 version of the Reggae Boyz. They are one point ahead of Curacao and three ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, with Bermuda bottom of the group on zero points. If Jamaica lose away to Trinidad and Tobago, it would open the door for all three teams to qualify on the final day.
Group C
Honduras have a two-point lead over Costa Rica with two games to go. They play Nicaragua before finishing the group at home against Costa Rica, which could decide the group.
Africa
Qualifying places available: Nine, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already qualified: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast
The four-best runners-up from the group stage are competing in the play-offs to determine who goes through to the intercontinental play-offs, ie a play-off for a play-off.
On Thursday, Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 and Cameroon were defeated by DR Congo 1-0 in the semi-finals, so Nigeria and DR Congo will meet in the play-off final on Sunday.
The winner of that then advances to March’s intercontinental play-offs.
Asia
Qualifying places available: Eight, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams qualified: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
The United Arab Emirates are playing Iraq across two legs to determine who goes through to the intercontinental qualifiers. The first leg was drawn 1-1 on Thursday, and the second leg will be played in Basra on Tuesday.
South America
Qualifying places available: Six, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams qualified: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay
This was completed ages ago. World Cup champions Argentina became the first side to qualify, with Ecuador finishing as surprise runners-up. Brazil went through despite finishing fifth, with Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay also advancing. Bolivia, who finished seventh, will enter the intercontinental play-offs.
Oceania
Qualifying places available: One, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams qualified: New Zealand
New Zealand have been the first benefactors of the expanded tournament, as they have automatically qualified for the 2026 edition via the only place available to Oceanic nations rather than having to go through the intercontinental playoffs as at previous editions. Qualifying has already ended, with New Caledonia having earned a place in the intercontinental play-offs.
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