World Cup 2026 Qualifying Kicks Off Decisive November Window

With 28 nations already in, matches from November 13–18 are set to lock in 14 more places and finalize most playoff paths for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Europe enters its final two rounds with only England qualified; France, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia can clinch with a single win as others target direct berths or the 16-team UEFA playoff. Africa stages a mini-tournament in Rabat with single-leg semifinals on Thursday (Nigeria vs Gabon, Cameroon vs DR Congo) and a Sunday final to send the winner to the intercontinental playoff. Asia’s remaining berth for the intercontinental playoff will be decided by UAE vs Iraq over two legs (Nov 13 in Abu Dhabi, Nov 18 in Basrah), with eight Asian teams already qualified directly. CONCACAF will crown three additional direct qualifiers from its group leaders while sending the two best runners-up to the intercontinental playoff; Suriname, Jamaica and Honduras currently top their groups entering the last two rounds.