UEFA has decided on the date of the draw for the qualifying cycle of the World Cup-2026 - it will be held on December 13 this year.
World CupRecall that the quota from Europe for the upcoming World Cup, which will be the first time to participate in 48 national teams, - 16 teams.
According to the results of the draw of the qualifying cycle will be formed 12 groups of 4-5 teams in each. For the groups with 5 teams, the tournament will start in March 2025, for the remaining groups - in September 2025. The group stage of qualification will end in November 2025.
The 12 group winners will receive direct tickets to the final part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 12 teams that finish second in their groups, as well as the top 4 winners of the 2024/25 Nations League groups that finish below the second place in the groups of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle, will form a play-off round, and the remaining 4 tickets to the Mundial will be played there.
As for the format of the playoffs, the 16 participants will be divided into 4 pathways of 4 teams each. Each pathway will feature single-match semifinals and finals. The winners of each of the four playoff finals will advance to the 2026 World Cup.
Recall that the final part of the World Cup-2026 will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026 on the soccer fields of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
