Which teams can qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026 in the current international period?

The race for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification is heating up, with several teams in with a chance of securing their place in the October international window.

As it stands, 20 teams have booked their places in the expanded 48-team World Cup taking place in the US, Mexico and Canada next year.

During the ongoing international break, two African teams, Egypt and Algeria, confirmed their qualification through the CAF qualifiers.

These are the permutations that allow teams to qualify for the World Cup in the current international break:

UEFA (Europe)

England

Thomas Tuchel’s England can qualify for the World Cup if they manage to beat Latvia and Serbia lose points against Albania. The Three Lions will qualify if Serbia fail to win both qualifying matches this week.

Spain

The 2024 European Championship champion will be close to qualifying if he beats Georgia and Bulgaria and if Turkey fails to win both matches this week (against Bulgaria and Georgia).

Norway

Group I toppers Norway can seal their first World Cup place since 1938 if they beat Israel and second-placed Italy drop points in the matches against Estonia and Israel.

Portugal

Portugal from Group F can qualify if it wins both matches against Ireland and Hungary this week and Armenia does not get more than two points in its two matches.

Switzerland

Switzerland can qualify from Group B by beating Slovenia and Kosovo loses points against Sweden.

France

France in Group D can qualify if it beats Iceland and Ukraine loses to Azerbaijan.

Croatia

Group H Croatia will all but seal qualification thanks to a better goal difference if they beat Gibraltar and the Czech Republic lose to the Faroe Islands.

CAF (Africa)

Ghana

Group I Ghana can seal qualification if they avoid defeat to Comoros, regardless of Madagascar’s result against Mali.

Cape Verde/Cameroon

A win over Estawani will take Cape Verde to its first World Cup final. If Cameroon drops points at home against Angola, a draw will be enough. Cameroon can only qualify with a win if Cape Verde loses its last group match.

Senegal

Senegal can qualify for the third consecutive World Cup if it picks up a point against Mauritania thanks to its superior goal difference. Congo will have to beat Sudan and hope that Senegal loses its last match.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast will qualify if it beats Kenya in the final match. If Gabon does not win against Burundi, a draw is sufficient.

South Africa/Benin/Nigeria

Group C of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers has three teams left vying for qualification. Nigeria will have to beat Benin by a two-goal margin and hope South Africa drops points against Rwanda. Bafana Bafana need a win and a Benin loss against the Super Eagles. Benin, currently top of the group, can qualify with a point if South Africa fails to win by two goals.

CONCACAF (North America)

As things stand, no team can qualify for the World Cup through this month’s qualifiers. Both Honduras and Haiti are on five points each in Group C and could move closer to a World Cup place in their straight shoot-out match on October 13. Similarly, the winner of the Group B match between Jamaica and Curacao will have an advantage going into next month’s final two matches.

AFC

Saudi Arabia can seal its place in next year’s showpiece event with a win over Iraq in Round 4 of the AFC qualifiers. Qatar can qualify if it beats the UAE in the only remaining match, provided Oman drops points in its match against the Emirates.

Published on October 11, 2025