2026 World Cup Qualifying (Live Updates)
Live updated World Cup 2026 Qualifying Models:
Note: All models use set FIFA Rankings based on the most current rankings. Changes in rankings will affect models.
AFC (8 Direct, 1 Playoff)
Round 1 (COMPLETE)
The bottom 20 ranked teams play in home-and-away head-to-head matchups. Winners advance to Rd 2
Round 2 (COMPLETE)
Remaining 36 teams (Top 26 ranked + 10 Rd 1 winners) drawn into 9 groups of 4. Play a double round robin. Top 2 finishers in each group advance to Rd 3
Round 3 (2/6 matchdays complete)
Remaining 18 teams (Top 2 from each Rd 2 group) drawn into 3 groups of 6. Play a double round robin. Top 2 finishers in each group qualify directly to World Cup. 3rd/4th place finishers in each group advance to Rd 4
Round 4
Remaining 6 teams (3rd/4th place finishers from each Rd 3 group) drawn into 2 groups of 3. Play single round robin at neutral site. Winner of each group qualifies directly to World Cup. 2nd place teams advance to Rd 5
Round 5
Remaining 2 teams (2nd place teams from each Rd 4 group) play one match at a neutral site. Winner qualifies to Intercontinental Playoff
Update - 9/10/24
Round 1 (4/10 matchdays complete)
54 Teams drawn into 9 groups of 6 teams. Play a double round robin. Top finisher in each group qualifies directly to World Cup. Top 4 runners up advance to Rd 2
Round 2
4 remaining teams drawn into 2 semifinal matches. Single-leg matches played. Winners play in single-leg match. Winner qualifies for Intercontinental Playoff
Update - 9/10/24
CONCACAF (6 Direct, 2 Playoff)
Note: Hosts USA, Mexico, Canada automatically qualified
Round 1 (COMPLETE)
Teams ranked 29-32 are drawn into pairs, and play a home-and-away series. Winners advance to Rd 2
Round 2 (2/4 matchdays complete)
30 remaining teams (Teams ranked 4-28 & 2 winners from Rd 1) are drawn into 6 groups of 5 teams. play single round robin. Top 2 teams in each group advance to Rd 3
Round 3
12 remaining teams drawn into 3 groups of 4. Play double round robin. Group winners qualify directly to World Cup. 2 best runners-up qualify to Intercontinental Playoff
Update - 9/10/24
Round 1 (8/18 matchdays complete)
10 teams play double round robin. Top 6 finishers qualify directly to the World Cup. 7th place qualifies for the Intercontinental Playoff
OFC (1 Direct, 1 Playoff)
Round 1 (Complete)
Teams ranked 8-11 play a single-round knockout tournament. Winner moves on to Rd 2
Round 2
8 remaining teams (Teams ranked 1-7 and winner of Rd 1) are drawn into 2 groups of 4. Play double round robin. Top 2 finishers in each group move on to Round 3
Round 3
4 remaining teams are drawn into semifinal pairings. Play single-leg semifinal. Winners play single-leg final. Winner qualifies directly to World Cup. Loser qualifies to Intercontinental Playoff
Update - 9/9/24
UEFA (16 Direct)
Round 1
54 (as Russia is currently excluded) teams drawn into groups of 4 or 5 teams (tentatively based on UEFA Nations League Post-Group Stage Rankings). Play double round robin. Group winners qualify directly to World Cup. Runners-up advance to Rd 2
Round 2
16 teams (12 runners-up from Rd 1, 4 highest ranked Group Winners from '24-'25 Nations League that didn't already directly qualify) drawn into 4 playoff paths, with 2 semifinals each. Semifinals are hosted by seeded teams. Winners play in a final to qualify directly to World Cup
Update - 9/10/24
Hello, can your model be downloaded in Excel somewhere?
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