Key details on upcoming qualifiers for the World Cup

ArmInfo. Yerevan, November 29. ArmInfo. Alexander Avanesov. The 2024/25 UEFA  Nations League has wrapped up its group phase, but the focus is  shifting towards the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup. As  nations prepare for this prestigious event, the qualifying structure  and upcoming draw are essential topics for football enthusiasts,  viasport.com reports. 

Qualifying Draw Details

The draw for the UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers is set for December  13, 2024, at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. It will  commence at noon CET (11:00 GMT). This event will determine the group  placements for the 54 UEFA member associations, excluding Russia,  which remains banned from competition.

Group Structure and Schedule

Teams will be divided into 12 groups, with Groups 1-6 comprising four  teams and commencing their qualifiers in September 2025. Groups 7-12  will consist of five teams, starting in March 2025. Notably, the four  semi-finalists from the Nations League will be allocated to a  four-team group, as they will not participate in the qualifying  rounds next June.

Seeds and Pots

The seeds for the qualifying draw have been confirmed following the  conclusion of the Nations League group phase. Here's the breakdown of  the pots:

Pot 1: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark,  Croatia, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria.

Pot 2: Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland,  Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway.

Pot 3: Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North  Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro,  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel.

Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan,  Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania.

Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino.

Qualifying Format

The exact schedule for the qualifiers will be announced after the  draw. Teams will compete in a home-and- away format, with the 12  group winners securing automatic qualification for the World Cup. The  remaining four spots will be filled through playoffs.

Play-off structure

The playoffs will take place in March 2026, involving 16 nations: the  12 group runners-up and the four highest-ranked Nations League group  winners who have not already qualified. These teams will be organized  into four paths, with each path containing four teams. Winners from  each path will also qualify for the World Cup.

Conclusion

As the football world gears up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the  upcoming draw and play-offs will play a crucial role in shaping the  tournament landscape. Fans can look forward to an exciting journey  towards one of the sport's biggest events.