Europe's national teams learned their pathways towards qualifying for UEFA's 16 spots for the 2026 World Cup
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Twelve groups drawnPlayoffs will determine several Pot 1 spotsFifty-four teams were drawnFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
UEFA's 54 teams were drawn into 12 groups Friday with the aim of reaching the North America-hosted FIFA World Cup 2026.
Several teams are still awaiting to be placed as a Pot 1 team in the respective group, with seeding to be determined by March’s UEFA Nations League (UNL) quarterfinals – including Italy, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, France, Croatia, Netherlands and Spain.
A record 16 teams from UEFA (up from 13) are able to qualify due to FIFA's expanded format for the 2026 tournament.
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The groups consist of four or five teams each, with winners qualifying directly for the World Cup. The remaining four spots will be decided in March 2026 via a 16-team UEFA playoff. The playoff field will include the 12 group-stage runners-up and four top-ranked UNL group winners not qualified via group stage or playoff runner-up slots.
FIFA World Cup 26â„¢: UEFA Preliminary Draw results
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
AFPDID YOU KNOW?
The March playoff match between Croatia and France, which will determine the fates of Group D and L, is a rematch of the 2018 World Cup Final — which France won 4-2.
WHAT NEXT FOR UEFA?
UEFA will kick off its Nations League quarterfinals in March 2025. Here are the match ups:
Italy vs. Germany (Winner goes to Group A; Loser goes to Group I)
Denmark vs. Portugal (Winner goes to Group F; Loser goes to Group C)
Croatia vs. France (Winner goes to Group D; Loser goes to Group L)
Netherlands vs. Spain (Winner goes to Group E; Loser goes to Group G)