Four points in four Nations League matches. Belgium can still mathematically reach the quarter-finals but the task promises to be complicated next November. The Devils are experiencing disappointing results but fortunately, Belgium will indeed be in pot 1 for the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw.
As RTBF explains, the Nations League and the Europe zone qualifiers for the next World Cup are closely linked. Thus, the eight nations that will compete in the quarter-finals of the Nations League will automatically be sent to pot 1 for the qualifying draw. In this first pot, there will be a total of 12 nations, which means that there are still ticket places.
The four nations not qualified for these quarter-finals which have the best FIFA ranking will thus be in pot 1. For the moment, Belgium is 6th in the FIFA ranking but above all the 4th European nation.
Being in the first pot is an advantage. There are 16 European tickets to be awarded for the 2026 World Cup. Only the first in each group is guaranteed to go to the World Cup. The 12 runners-up in the group will have to go through play-offs (a semi-final and a final in a dry match) alongside the four best group winners of the Nations League.
