Overview
- Germany and the Netherlands clinched direct berths with emphatic final‑round wins in UEFA qualifying, joining an expanded list of European teams already confirmed.
- Roughly 39 of 48 places are now taken, with hosts United States, Mexico and Canada in, and UEFA moving the remaining spots to playoffs to be drawn on November 20 in Zürich.
- DR Congo advanced to the intercontinental repechage by eliminating Nigeria on penalties, while Iraq secured Asia’s slot for the same six‑team playoff.
- CONCACAF’s final round on November 18 will decide three direct qualifiers and identify two teams for the intercontinental playoff, with groups settling first-place finishers and the best runners-up.
- In tune‑up action, Mexico plays Paraguay in San Antonio in its last 2025 friendly, Peru fell 2-1 to Chile in Sochi, and Mexico’s U-17s reached the knockouts and face Portugal in Qatar.