2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 September 2023 – 31 March 2026 |
| Teams | 206 (from 6 confederations) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 392 |
| Goals scored | 1,067 (2.72 per match) |
| Attendance | 6,786,633 (17,313 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Almoez Ali(12 goals) |
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification determines which teams will join Canada, Mexico, and the United States as teams in the tournament. It started on September 7, 2023, with three matches in the CONMEBOL zone.[1]
Qualified countries
[change | change source]
Teams qualified
Teams whose qualification status has yet to be decided
Teams failed to qualify
Teams withdrew or suspended
Not a FIFA member
| Team | Method of
qualification |
Date of
qualification |
Finals
appearance |
Last
time qualified |
Current
consecutive appearances[note 1] |
Previous best
performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canada
|
Hosts | 14 February 2023[note 2] | 3rd | 2022 | 2 | Group stage (1986, 2022) |
 Mexico
|
Hosts | 14 February 2023[note 2] | 18th | 2022 | 9 | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
 United States
|
Hosts | 14 February 2023[note 2] | 12th | 2022 | 2 | Third place (1930) |
Notes
- ↑ Including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Although the United bid was selected on 13 June 2018, the automatic berths allocated to the hosts were not confirmed until a decision by the FIFA Council on 14 February 2023.[2]
Qualification process
[change | change source]On 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation scheme for the new 48-team final format.
Summary of qualification
[change | change source]
| ||||||||
| Confederation | Direct slots | Play-off slots | Teams started | Teams eliminated | Teams qualified | Qualifying start date | Qualifying next match date | Qualifying end date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | 8 | 1 | 46 | 28 | 0 | 12 October 2023 | 20 March 2025 | 18 November 2025 |
| CAF | 9 | 1 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 15 November 2023 | March 2025 | November 2025 |
| CONCACAF | 3+3 | 2 | 32+3 | 2 | 0+3 | 22 March 2024 | 4 June 2025 | November 2025 |
| CONMEBOL | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 September 2023 | 20 March 2025 | September 2025 |
| OFC | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 6 September 2024 | 21 March 2025 | 24 March 2025 |
| UEFA | 16 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 21 March 2025 | 21 March 2025 | 31 March 2026 |
| Play-offs | 2 | — | (6) | 0 | 0 | March 2026 | March 2026 | March 2026 |
| Total | 45+3 | 6 | 206+3 | 37 | 0+3 | 7 September 2023 | 20 March 2025 | 31 March 2026 |
Top goalscorers
[change | change source]There have been 1067 goals scored in 392 matches, for an average of 2.72 goals per match. Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
12 goals
10 goals
8 goals
7 goals
6 goals
Notes
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Arrancan las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas hoy con tres partidos. ¿Por dónde verlos?". futbol.com.uy - Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ↑ "FIFA Council highlights record breaking revenue in football". FIFA. 14 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.