Overview
- Thirty of 48 places are confirmed, leaving about 18 spots to be decided across the November window and early 2026.
- Only three European teams are in so far — England, France and Croatia — with nine more automatic UEFA berths to be clinched from Nov. 16–18, including Germany vs. Slovakia for top spot and Italy needing a nine-goal win over Norway to avoid the playoffs.
- Portugal can qualify by beating Armenia with Cristiano Ronaldo suspended, the Netherlands need only a point against Lithuania, Belgium can seal a place by defeating Liechtenstein, and Switzerland qualify with virtually anything but a six-goal collapse to Kosovo.
- Africa’s four-team playoff reaches its final today as Nigeria face DR Congo to determine the continent’s representative for the intercontinental playoff.
- Asia’s intercontinental playoff entrant will be decided on Nov. 18 in Basra after UAE and Iraq drew the first leg 1-1, while CONCACAF’s third-round groups conclude Tuesday to set three direct qualifiers and two intercontinental playoff participants.