FIFA World Cup Qualifying live

**FIFA World Cup Qualifying** is a crucial phase in the buildup to the **FIFA World Cup**, determining which national teams will secure a spot in the prestigious tournament. The **qualifying process** is managed by FIFA’s six continental football governing bodies: **AFC (Asia)**, **CAF (Africa)**, **CONCACAF (North and Central America)**, **CONMEBOL (South America)**, **OFC (Oceania)**, and **UEFA (Europe)**.

**Regional Qualifiers** involve teams competing in a series of **group stage matches** and **knockout rounds** to earn their place in the World Cup. Each region has a set number of **qualification spots** based on its strength and the number of teams competing.

The process starts with the **group stage**, where teams are divided into groups and play **round-robin matches**. The top teams from each group advance to the **knockout stage**, which may include additional play-offs or elimination rounds.

**Host nations** receive an automatic berth in the World Cup, bypassing the qualification rounds. For instance, **Qatar** automatically qualified for the 2022 World Cup as the host country.

The **qualification rounds** span several years and involve intense competition as teams vie for their chance to participate in the global tournament. With the World Cup expanding to **48 teams** in 2026, the number of **qualifying spots** and opportunities for teams to advance has increased, adding new dynamics to the qualification process.

Fifa qualifying match schedule

FIFA World Cup qualifiers table

FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers table

FIFA World Cup qualifiers 2026 schedule

Fifa qualifying match results

Fifa qualifying match europe

World Cup qualifiers europe