UEFA Confirm Date for 2026 World Cup European Group Stage Qualifiers
The expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup will feature 16 sides from the UEFA region. Just 18 months away, this tournament promises to be unprecedented, with 48 nations vying for the biggest prize in world soccer.
Co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, the competition kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City, culminating in the final at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Europe’s governing body has confirmed that the draw procedure for the group qualifying stage will take place on December 13 in Zurich (exact time still to be announced). The first round of group qualifying games is set to begin in March 2025, with final matches concluding in November.
The last four UEFA spots for the 2026 World Cup will be determined through playoffs held from March 26-31, 2026. The draw will involve 54 of the 55 UEFA nations, with Russia expected to remain excluded due to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The draw will follow a seeded pattern based on the UEFA coefficient, grouping teams into 12 groups of four and five. Each team will play one another in a home-and-away format, with the 12 group winners qualifying directly for the World Cup and the remaining four spots filled through playoffs involving the 12 group runners-up.
