In November, 14 countries can still qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico – eleven from Europe. Everything you need to know about it.
What is it about?
The last two matchdays of a long World Cup qualification are coming up in Europe. By Tuesday (November 18, 2025), eleven teams from the continent will qualify directly for next year’s world tournament. So far, only England has managed this in Europe. Three tickets will also be awarded directly in North and Central America.
So far, 28 of 48 teams have qualified for the summer finals. The remaining six participants will be determined in playoffs next year.
Who has the best chances in Europe?
The teams that are currently leading their qualifying group are in “pole position”. In addition to Germany, these are Switzerland, Denmark, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Belgium and Croatia.
The DFB team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann can make everything clear to their pursuers Slovakia at home in a direct duel on the last match day at the latest.
Switzerland still needs a win from the games against bottom-placed Sweden and in Kosovo, and France already has “match point” on Thursday (November 13th, 2025). With a home win against Ukraine everything would be clear. In the event of bankruptcy, the “Equipe Tricolore” could then win their World Cup ticket in Azerbaijan.
Spain could plan for the world tournament with a success in Georgia; in the event of a draw or a defeat, the Iberians would have a “final” against Turkey on their hands.
Normally, one point from the games in Ireland and against Armenia is enough for Portugal because of the significantly better goal difference.
With a draw in Poland, the question of qualification would probably be over for the Netherlands. If not, then “Oranj” still has it in their hands against Lithuania.
Austria could also celebrate with a win in Cyprus after the penultimate matchday, if their pursuers Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania draw. Otherwise, the Bosnians could overtake the Alpine republic with a victory in a direct duel in Vienna.
The Norwegians are currently unbeaten in their group, three points ahead of Italy. With a win against Estonia, qualification would be perfect. Then the direct duel in Italy on the last match day would be out of steam. Belgium also has it in their hands, the team is favorite in Kazakhstan and against Liechtenstein – and a home win against the Faroe Islands is enough for Croatia in their group.
It’s still exciting in Group C, where Denmark and Scotland are tied on points. If that is still the case before the final matchday (Denmark would have to win against Belarus and Scotland in Greece), then there would be a real “final” in Scotland to win the group.
How are the playoffs going in Europe?
In the playoffs, 16 teams compete for the four remaining tickets for Europe. In addition to the twelve group runners-up, these are the four best-placed group winners in the 2024/25 Nations League who have not already qualified for the World Cup or the playoffs as group first or second. The draw will take place on November 20th in Zurich. The playoff games will be played in March.
As of now, Turkey, Italy and Poland will probably also have to take this detour. The Italians in particular have already had painful experiences there, as they missed the playoffs at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
What about the rest of the world?
Three direct tickets will also be awarded in North and Central America in November.
As in Europe, the winners of the three groups have secured their ticket. Group A is currently led by Suriname, a country in northeastern South America whose almost 630,000 inhabitants speak Dutch due to more than 300 years of colonial occupation. National players include former Bundesliga professionals Sheraldo Becker and Jean-Paul Boetius.
Jamaica is at the top in Group B and Honduras is in Group C. The two best runners-up in the group take part in an intercontinental playoff tournament.
How are they going? intercontinental Playoffs?
Apart from Europe, the other continental associations are sending a total of six nations to the intercontinental playoff tournament. They then fight for the two remaining tickets. Bolivia and New Caledonia are already certain to take part, the four other participants are still to be determined. In the upcoming international match phase, Africa and Asia will each determine a team that can continue to dream of the World Cup.
The game is then played in two mini-tournaments, in each of which one ticket is awarded. The draw will also take place on November 20th in Zurich, the playoffs will be held in March, similar to the European playoffs.