Overview

• Morocco became Africa’s first confirmed entrant with a 5–0 win over Niger in Rabat, raising the field to 17 qualified teams.
• FIFA Ticketing opens on September 10 with an initial Visa‑card lottery, followed by a general lottery from October to March and first‑come sales in spring 2026.
• CONCACAF’s final round is underway with 12 teams in three groups; group winners qualify directly and the two best runners‑up advance to the intercontinental playoff.
• Multiple outlets report Mexico as the proposed host for the March 2026 intercontinental playoffs in Guadalajara and Monterrey, a plan not yet ratified by FIFA.
• The final draw is scheduled for December 5, 2025 at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, with the tournament to kick off June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca.