With the March international window set to close and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in full swing, high-stakes matches are taking place around the world as nations fight for a spot at the tournament. While qualification systems vary in structure and challenges, they all serve the same purpose of identifying the best teams to represent their continent at the global football showpiece.
The European qualifying cycle soft-launched in March and is poised to kick into gear this September as sides vie for the final places at the World Cup. England and some other top seeds have taken a commanding lead, but others are in a battle of nerves. The top six after the 18-game home-and-away competition will secure their berths, while the seventh-place finisher advances to an inter-confederation play-off against the fifth-place team from a different confederation.
As the 2026 World Cup qualifiers continue, many fans are watching closely to see if any new powers can make a surprise run at a coveted spot. A recent study by U.S. foreign policy researcher Andrew Bertoli found that a country’s participation in a FIFA World Cup qualifier was associated with its history of military aggression, as measured by the number of international battles it initiated.
Oceania is the first to benefit from the expanded tournament, as New Zealand beat New Caledonia in the Conmebol qualifying final to earn the region’s only automatic World Cup berth. All 54 FIFA-affiliated countries are entering the first round of qualifiers, with the top two from each group advancing to the second round and the next two runners-up earning spots in the inter-confederation playoffs.