Today, December 13, the draw for the qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Cup took place in Zurich. The national team of Ukraine learned about its opponents.
54 national teams will participate in the European qualification. Following the draw, 12 groups of 4-5 teams each have been formed.
Results of the qualification draw for the 2026 World Cup:
Group A
Italy/Germany (winner in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
Slovakia
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg
Group B
Switzerland
Sweden
Slovenia
Kosovo
Group C
Denmark/Portugal (loser in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
Greece
Scotland
Belarus
Group D
France/Croatia (winner in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
UKRAINE
Iceland
Azerbaijan
Group E
Spain/Netherlands (winner in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
Turkey
Georgia
Bulgaría
Group F
Denmark/Portugal (winner in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
Hungary
Ireland
Armenia
Group G
Netherlands/Spain (loser in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
Poland
Finland
Lithuania
Malta
Group H
Austria
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus
San Marino
Group I
Italy/Germany (loser in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
Norway
Israel
Estonia
Moldova
Group J
Belgium
Wales
Northern Macedonia
Kazakhstan
Liechtenstein
Group K
England
Serbia
Albania
Latvia
Andorra
Group L
France/Croatia (loser in the 1/4 final of the Nations League)
Czech Republic
Montenegro
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Let us remind you that the qualification cycle for the 2026 World Cup will start in March 2025 — during this period, the first matches of the tournament will be held in groups of five teams. And in September 2025, the competition will also begin in other groups. The group stage of the qualification will conclude in November 2025.
The 12 group winners of the qualification cycle will receive direct tickets to the final part of the 2026 World Cup. The 12 teams that finish second in their groups, as well as the 4 best group winners from the Nations League 2024/25 who rank lower than second place in the qualification groups for the 2026 World Cup, will form the playoff round, where the remaining 4 tickets to the World Cup will be contested.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, on the football fields of the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time, 48 teams will participate in the world championship.
