Draw pots confirmed for UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifying teams

November 29 – The draw pots for the UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifying teams have been determined with all eight Nations League quarter finalists, plus the 4 best-ranked UEFA nations (England, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria) as the highest seeded groups.

The draw will create six teams of 4 nations and 6 teams of 5, with groups enjoying all of the others of their group residence and away.

UEFA has 16 berths on the expanded 48-team World Cup within the US, Mexico and Canada. Group winners will qualify straight for 2026.

Following the group stage 16 groups – the 12 group runners-up and 4 greatest Nations League group winners primarily based that completed outdoors the highest two of their qualifying group – will likely be drawn into 4 paths, enjoying two rounds of single-match play-offs. The 4 path winners will qualify for 2026.

The draw will likely be held on Friday December 13.

Group stage matches will start in March 2025 and conclude in November 2025.

UEFA Preliminary Draw pots:

Pot 1: France, Spain, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria

Pot 2: Ukraine, Sweden, Türkiye, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, Czechia and Norway

Pot 3: Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Eire, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Eire, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Israel

Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Belarus, Kosovo, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia and Lithuania

Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein and San Marino

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