Overview
- Asia has eight direct qualifiers confirmed, with UAE and Iraq set for a two‑leg playoff on November 13 and 18 to claim the AFC place at the inter‑confederation event.
- Africa’s nine direct entrants include first‑time qualifier Cape Verde, while Gabon, DR Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria will contest a mini playoff on November 13 and 16 for the continent’s inter‑confederation berth.
- Europe has only England through so far, with the remaining group winners to be decided by November 18 and UEFA playoffs extending into March 2026.
- South America’s six automatic spots are filled by Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Bolivia bound for the inter‑confederation playoffs; Oceania is complete with New Zealand qualified and New Caledonia into the playoffs.
- FIFA has scheduled the inter‑confederation playoff tournament in Mexico for March 2026, and the World Cup draw will be held on December 5, 2025 at Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center.