See how World Cup qualifiers are shaping up around the globe | OneFootball

With the end of the World Cup Qualifiers approaching, Gazeta Esportiva provides an overview of the qualifiers around the world. While South America has almost all participants defined and Europe is still at the beginning of the games, Africa, North America, Asia, and Oceania are in full swing with the qualifiers.

Africa

(Photo: Disclosure / Morocco)

With 54 teams grouped into nine groups, the qualification model on the African continent is simple. Each group plays in a double round-robin format; the group leaders advance to the World Cup, while the four best runners-up fight for a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.

Currently, in the seventh round, Africa has defined only one participant for the 2026 World Cup: the Morocco team, a sensation in 2022.

Other teams are on the verge of qualifying but have not yet secured it mathematically. It is likely that Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia will confirm their qualifications during this FIFA Date.

Current group standings

* in bold, already qualified team. ** in italics, currently qualified. *** underlined, best runners-up. **** strikethrough, already eliminated teams.

North and Central America

(Photo: Disclosure / Guatemala)

With hosts Canada, United States, and Mexico already qualified for the World Cup, the third and decisive phase of the Concacaf Qualifiers began during this FIFA Date. The twelve teams are divided into three groups, where they face each other in a double round-robin format. The leaders of each group advance to the World Cup, while the two best runners-up will compete in the playoffs.

The first round of this phase was marked by an excess of draws – four in six games. However, El Salvador and Jamaica started strong and are expected to compete in the next World Cup.

Current group standings

* in italics, currently qualified.

Asia

(Photo: Disclosure / Saudi Arabia)

The Asian Qualifiers have already defined six teams qualified for the World Cup: Iran, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the newcomers Jordan and Uzbekistan, who secured their spots during the second phase.

Now, six teams are fighting for the last two direct spots for the World Cup and a place in the playoffs during the third phase. The teams are divided into two groups and play in a single round-robin format; the leaders of each group advance directly, while the runners-up play a home-and-away match to determine the Asian representative in the playoffs.

The matches of this phase will begin in the next FIFA Date, in October.

See the groups

Group A: Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman; Group B: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Indonesia.

Oceania

(Photo: Disclosure / New Zealand)

The Oceania Qualifiers have already been decided. Receiving a direct spot for the first time in history, the eleven teams affiliated with the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) competed in three phases for a place in the World Cup.

Without surprises, New Zealand defeated New Caledonia by 3 to 0 and secured their direct spot. The runner-up of the Qualifiers awaits the other five opponents for the intercontinental playoffs.

New World Cup Format

(Photo: Disclosure/FIFA)

For the first time in history, the World Cup will be contested by 48 teams. The Qualifiers for the tournament will run until November 2025. The draw for the World Cup groups will be held on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, United States, at 1 PM (Brasília time).

The opening of the World Cup will be on June 11, 2026, with the first match of Group A. It is confirmed to be at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, in a match featuring the Mexican team.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.