Just two days after confirming the dates for FIFA Men's World Cup 2030 and 2034 (that were already known), UEFA has announced the groups for the next Preliminary Draw of the next World Cup, in 2026, for the European nations.
A total number of 48 teams will take part in 2026 World Cup -16 more from the usual 32-. Of those, 16 nations will be from European nations (UEFA).
In order to decide which 16 European teams qualify, UEFA has made 12 groups, each one comprised of 4 or 5 nations. The 12 winners of each group will get direct qualification to the World Cup in summer 2026
The 2026 World Cup, which will be held again in the usual summer dates in the USA, Canada and Mexico -despite concerns of extreme heat in some of the venues-, will have its qualifying group stage between March 2025 and November 2025.
The four remaining places of the World Cup will be decided in a play-off between the 12 runners-up of the qualifying stage, as well as the 4 best ranked UEFA Nations League 2024-25 winners that hadn't qualified yet. In total, 16 teams will compete for four places in March 2026.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying group stage for UEFA teams
These are the groups for the qualifying games to be played between March and November 2025. Bear in mind the some spots will be decided according to the winners of UEFA Nations League (UNL) quarter-final games to be played in March -which, aside from that, is a different competition-.
Group A
Winner Italy-Germany (UNL QF4)
Slovakia
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg
Group B
Switzerland
Sweden
Slovenia
Kosovo
Group C
Defeated team Denmark-Portugal (UNL QF3)
Greece
Scotland
Belarus
Group D
Winner Croatia-France (UNL QF2)
Ukraine
Iceland
Azerbaijan
Group E
Winner Netherlands-Spain (UNL QF1)
Türkiye
Georgia
Bulgaria
Group F
Winner Denmark-Portugal (UNL QF3)
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Armenia
Group G
Defeated team Netherlands-Spain (UNL QF1)
Poland
Finland
Lithuania
Malta
Group H
Austria
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus
San Marino
Group I
Defeated team Italy-Germany (UNL QF4)
Norway
Israel
Estonia
Moldova
Group J
Belgium
Wales
North Macedonia
Kazakhstan
Liechtenstein
Group K
England
Serbia
Albania
Latvia
Andorra
Group L
Defeated team Croatia-France (UNL QF2)
Czechia
Montenegro
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar