Who can qualify for the World Cup this week?

Adam Clery Football Column. A newsletter that unpacks the absurdities and oddities of the beautiful gameThe ACFC newsletter: unpacking football’s absurditiesUnpack football’s oddities with the ACFC newsletterWorld Cup qualifying is hurtling towards a conclusion with some of the final places ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico up for grabs over the next two weeks. Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Cape Verde Islands are the three first-time qualifiers to reach the 48-team finals. Thomas Tuchel’s England are the only European team to have qualified so far – courtesy of drubbings of Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra – but the other 11 group winners will be gradually confirmed in the coming days as the first round of qualifying finally concludes. Elsewhere, we have largely reached play-off time across the rest of the world; and that’s before the rest of the European play-offs and inter-continental play-offs in March. These games are confusingly scheduled to take place after Friday’s World Cup draw. Europe Qualifying spots available: 16Teams qualified already: EnglandWith England qualifying, the 11 group winners who will all get a direct ticket to the World Cup in the last two rounds of qualification will be confirmed. The twelve group runners-up will go on to the March play-offs, where four more teams can qualify. It is necessary to break down the groups. Group AGermany are in in their driving seat here are last month’s 1-0 win over Northern Ireland, who are not out of the running yet. Germany is level with Slovakia on nine points, and Northern Ireland has six, as we enter the final two games. Germany plays Luxembourg first, which is bottom of the group and has no points. This will be a great opportunity for Germany to gain some goal differential, while Slovakia hosts Northern Ireland. Germany finishes the group at home, against Slovakia in Leipzig. This could be a game-decider on Monday. open image in galleryGermany win over Northern Ireland puts them in control of Group A (PA Wire)Group BSwitzerland have a three-point lead over Kosovo, plus a massive advantage in goal difference, which comes amid Sweden’s dismal campaign so far. Switzerland hosts Sweden on their final day before travelling to Kosovo. Sweden still has a chance to reach the play-offs, even with Graham Potter parachuted into their team. They must win both matches, the first one against Switzerland, and then at home against Slovenia. Kosovo will also have to lose both their games. Group CIt’s squeaky bum time for the Tartan Army, as they target a first place at a men’s World Cup since the glorious days of 1998. Scotland has a simple equation: beat Denmark in Hampden, avoid defeat against Greece at Piraeus (who are already out) and win the World Cup. Denmark’s equation is simpler. Since Scotland held them to a goalless draw in Copenhagen the Danes have won four games in a line, scoring 12 goals. This gives the Danes an advantage in goal difference. As long as they don’t lose against Belarus, they can go through with a draw in Glasgow.open image in galleryScotland kept their hopes alive by beating Greece (PA Wire) Group D France have a three-point lead over second-placed Ukraine ahead of their meeting at the Parc des Princes on Thursday, so can book their place with a win. France can still qualify with a win against Azerbaijan. Ukraine will host Iceland, who are hoping to grab a place in the play-offs. Spain is looking good in Group E, with four victories, a 3-point lead over Turkey, and a huge advantage in goal differential. It should be sufficient to qualify if Georgia wins, except if Turkey loses at home in the final game. Turkey losing to Bulgaria will confirm qualification. Group FPortugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the Republic of Ireland will qualify for the next round if they win in Dublin on Wednesday. If the Irish surprise everyone on Thursday there is always the home match against Armenia. Hungary can secure a place in the play-offs ahead of Ireland by beating Armenia, and Ireland losing. Open image in galleryCristiano Cristiano is closing in to another World Cup appearance. (PA Wire).Group GThe Netherlands are three points ahead of Poland. They face them in Warsaw, Friday night, in the group-decider. The Netherlands have a goal difference of +19, to Poland’s +6, so Robert Lewandowski’s side need to win. The Netherlands host Lithuania at home on the final game day while Poland plays Malta. Group HIt could come down to the last day with Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Austria have a two-point lead ahead of going to already-eliminated Cyprus, while Bosnia and Herzegovina host third-place Romania, who aren’t out of the running yet. Given Austria’s goal difference, Bosnia and Herzegovina need to beat Romania to give themselves a chance ahead of their trip to Vienna. Group IThis will be one of the most interesting groups in the final rounds. The last time Norway qualified for a men’s World Cup was in 1998, but with Erling Haaland leading the line they hold a three-point lead over Italy, who have missed the last two World Cups and are in danger of extending their absence from a tournament they have won four times. Italy will host Norway on Sunday in Milan in a possible group decider. Norway, with 29 goals scored in qualifying (Haaland has only scored 12), have a massive advantage in terms of goal difference. They will qualify if they beat Estonia on Thursday. Italy will need to win with a huge margin in Moldova. open image in galleryHaaland’s goals mean Norway have a massive advantage (via REUTERS)Group JBelgium took a huge step towards qualifying with their 4-2 win over Wales in Cardiff, and hold a one-point advantage over second-placed North Macedonia with two games to come against Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein – who are both already out. Wales is certain to beat Liechtenstein this Thursday in order to be level on points with North Macedonia. Then, on Tuesday, they will host them. It will most likely determine who advances to the playoffs. open image in galleryBelgium’s win over Wales put them in control of Group J (PA Wire)Group K England are through as group winners ahead of playing Serbia at Wembley. Serbia needs a win as they fight Albania for the play-off position. On the final day, England will travel to Albania while Serbia hosts Latvia. Croatia holds a three-point edge over the Czech Republic in second place, and a four point lead over third-place Faroe Islands. Croatia will, however, be through if they win at home against the Faroe Islands this Friday. Faroe Islands will need to win in order to have any chance of surviving the final day when the Czech Republic hosts Gibraltar. AmericasQualifying places available: Six (including three hosts USA, Canada and Mexico), plus two into intercontinental play-offsTeams already qualified: None through qualifying (USA, Canada and Mexico automatically as co-hosts)The three group winners, who qualify directly for the World Cup, will be decided over these upcoming two rounds of qualifying matches, as will the trio of group runners-up, with the best two of those reaching the intercontinental play-offs.Group AIt’s all to play for in Group A, as Suriname lead Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador. Suriname leads Panama, Guatemala, and El Salvador by only three points. The four teams are separated in the final rounds by just three. Panama’s fixtures are the same, but reversed. Guatemala and El Salvador also have to qualify. open image in galleryThe race between Suriname and Panama will go down to the wire (AFP via Getty Images)Group B It’s a big week for Steve McClaren’s Jamaica. With two games to go against Trinidad and Tobago and then Curacao, Jamaica are just two wins away from qualifying for the men’s World Cup for the first time since the 1998 version of the Reggae Boyz. Bermuda, who has zero points in the group, is at the bottom with one point. All three teams would qualify if Jamaica lost to Trinidad and Tobago. Open image in galleryJamaica is two wins away a World Cup for the first time since 1998 (REUTERS). Group CHonduras has a two-point advantage over Costa Rica. The final game of the group could be played at home, against Costa Rica. AfricaNine qualifying places are available, plus one for the intercontinental playoffs.Teams that have already qualified include: Morocco, Tunisia Egypt, Algeria, Ghana Cape Verde South Africa Senegal Ivory Coast.The four best runners-up of the group stage will compete in the playoffs. This is a playoff within a game to determine which teams advance to the intercontinental playoffs. Nigeria will play Gabon on Thursday and Cameroon will play DR Congo on Sunday in the semi finals. The winner of both matches will then meet in the play-off finale. The winner of that then advances to March’s intercontinental play-offs. Open image in galleryNigeria must go through play-offs to qualify for the World Cup. (AP)Asia Qualifying Places Available: Eight plus one place into the intercontinental play offs. Teams qualified: Japan Iran Uzbekistan South Korea Jordan Australia Saudi Arabia QatarThe United Arab Emirates and Iraq will be playing over two legs to determine which team advances to the intercontinental qualifying. South AmericaSix qualifying places are available, plus one place for the intercontinental playoffs.Teams that qualified include Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador. Argentina qualified first, followed by Ecuador as the surprise runner-up. Brazil, despite having finished fifth, advanced, along with Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay. Bolivia, who came in seventh place, will now enter the intercontinental qualifying play-offs. Oceania Number of places for Oceania qualifying: One plus one place into the intercontinental playoffs.Teams that qualified: New ZealandNew Zealand was the first beneficiary of the expanded event, as it qualified automatically for 2026 via the only available spot to Oceanic nations, instead having to go through intercontinental tournaments like previous editions. New Caledonia has earned a spot in the intercontinental playoffs after qualifying.
2025-11-10 13:10:55