Indeed, if UEFA has not officially announced the composition of the pots for the 2026 World Cup, we have already known how qualifying works for some time. Twelve groups of four or five teams will be composed. The leading countries will directly join the global tournament while the second will compete in play-offs with “the highest ranked teams among those who finished first in their UEFA Nations League group – and who did not finish second in their qualifying group”.
Spain, Germany, Portugal and France, the four group winners of League A are therefore guaranteed, in the worst case scenario, to compete in the play-offs for the next World Cup. The group winners of the Lower Leagues therefore hope that these big names of European football will finish in the first two of their qualifying group to take their place in the play-offs, if necessary. In order, we find England, Norway, Wales, Czech Republic, Sweden, North Macedonia, Romania, Northern Ireland, Moldova and… San Marino.
The small country landlocked in Italy must therefore hope that ten of the thirteen other group winners do not miss one of the first two places during qualifying. In short, this would be equivalent to saying that these ten countries must position themselves among the 24 best European nations. When we know that seven of these countries participated in the last Euro, contested by 24, we understand that it will be complicated but not impossible. The group draw scheduled for December 13 will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized there.
Here’s why qualifying for the 2026 World Cup may not be that easy for the Red Devils
