NEWS

Who could advance this week, what countries need, and what is the Play-Off Tournament?

World Cup 2022

With just 20 World Cup spots still up for grabs, the race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is heating up. So far, 28 teams have secured their place, including the three co-hosts. Heavyweights like Argentina, Brazil, and England have already booked their tickets, but who else could follow them into next summer’s showpiece?

Let’s break it down by region.

Table of Contents

1. Europe (16 direct spots)
2. North & Central America (6 direct spots + 2 Play-Off Tournament spots)
3. Africa (9 direct spots + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)
4. Asia (8 direct spots + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)
5. South America (6 direct spots + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)
6. Oceania (1 direct spot + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)
7. What is the Play-Off Tournament?

Europe (16 direct spots)

How it works:

• 12 group winners qualify automatically.
• Runners-up enter a 16-team Play-Off Tournament, along with the four best-ranked Nations League section winners who did not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups.
• The 16 teams are drawn into four play-off paths, each with single-leg semi-finals and finals in March 2026. The four winners secure a World Cup spot.

So far, only England has qualified, dominating Group K with six wins from six matches.

Who could qualify this week:

• France – Beat Ukraine on Thursday, and they’re through.
• Switzerland – Win against Sweden and Kosovo lose to Slovenia, or draw vs Sweden with Kosovo losing to Slovenia.
• Belgium – Beat Kazakhstan.
• Netherlands – Beat Poland.
• Austria – Beat Cyprus and Bosnia & Herzegovina fail to defeat Romania.
• Portugal – Beat Republic of Ireland, or draw if Hungary loses to Armenia.
• Norway – Beat Estonia with Italy losing to Moldova, or draw if Italy loses to Moldova.
• Spain – Beat Georgia and hope Turkey fail to defeat Bulgaria.

North & Central America (6 direct spots + 2 Play-Off Tournament spots)

No team has qualified yet.

Who could qualify this week:

• Honduras – Beat Nicaragua and hope Costa Rica draws with Haiti.
• Jamaica – Beat Trinidad & Tobago and hope Curaçao loses to Bermuda.

Africa (9 direct spots + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)

Qualified teams:

Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, South Africa

Play-Off:

The four best group runners-up – Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo – will compete this week for one spot in the Play-Off Tournament.

Asia (8 direct spots + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)

Qualified teams:

Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan

Play-Off:

Iraq vs UAE this week to determine the Asian representative in the Play-Off Tournament.

South America (6 direct spots + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)

Qualified teams:

Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay

Play-Off:

Bolivia will compete for a Play-Off Tournament spot.

Oceania (1 direct spot + 1 Play-Off Tournament spot)

Qualified team:

New Zealand

Play-Off:

New Caledonia will represent Oceania in the Play-Off Tournament.

What is the Play-Off Tournament?

• A newly created event to determine the final two World Cup qualifiers.
• Six teams participate: the four lowest-ranked nations play in semi-finals, while the two highest-ranked nations go straight to the finals.
• The winners of the two finals will secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

This week’s matches are crucial across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and the Play-Off Tournament promises high drama as nations fight for the final tickets to the World Cup.