The qualification groups for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico have been finalised following the Nations League quarter-finals.
Germany, Portugal, Spain, and France secured spots in the Nations League’s Final Four, scheduled for June. These four teams will compete in groups of four and will commence their World Cup qualifiers in September.
Denmark, one of the quarter-final losers, will also join a group of four. The other three nations – Italy, Croatia, and the Netherlands – will enter qualification groups of five teams and begin their campaigns in June.
Belgium, which secured its place in the Nations League’s A-division on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Ukraine, was already aware of its future opponents: Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein, as determined in the December draw.
Now the Nations League quarter-finalists know their groups. Germany will be in Group A with Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg. France finds itself in Group D alongside Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan.
Spain will compete in Group E against Turkey, Georgia, and Bulgaria, while Portugal faces Hungary, Ireland, and Armenia in Group F. ‘Lucky loser’ Denmark will be in Group C with Greece, Scotland, and Belarus.
The Netherlands, Italy, and Croatia also know their fellow competitors from Sunday. The Netherlands will be in Group G with Finland, Poland, Lithuania, and Malta. Italy faces Group I opponents Norway, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova. Croatia, in Group L, will compete against the Czech Republic, Montenegro, the Faroe Islands, and Gibraltar.
Sixteen European nations will qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup, with the twelve group winners advancing directly. Four additional teams will secure their places through the play-offs.
