2026 World Cup-UEFA/ The preliminary draw of European nations: big calibers could not qualify. the why!
This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
HIBAPRESS-RABAT-FIFA
UEFA member associations will soon discover the path to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever
The draw will take place at FIFA headquarters in Zurich (Switzerland)
Broadcast on FIFA.com and FIFA+, this ceremony marks a new step on the road to the first 48-team FIFA World Cup
Preliminary competition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is already in full swing in five of the six confederations. Soon, it will be the turn of the UEFA national teams to join this great race towards the biggest sporting competition of all time.
Indeed, FIFA member associations affiliated with UEFA will discover the path that will perhaps lead them to this historic edition. The UEFA preliminary draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday 13 December 2024 at 12:00 (CET).
The enlargement of the field for the final phase of the premier FIFA event resulted in an increase in the number of places allocated to the European selections, of which there will now be 16 present (compared to 13 previously).
With 48 teams competing, the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup is already shaping up to be the most inclusive ever. Fans around the world will be able to follow the draw live on FIFA.com, FIFA+ and official broadcaster channels. The full list of media partners who will broadcast the ceremony will be published on FIFA.com in due course.
The group stage of the UEFA preliminary competition will begin in March 2025 and end in November 2025. It will take place according to a traditional format: 12 groups of four or five teams, with the first in each group directly qualifying for the final phase.
The remaining four places will be allocated in March 2026 in a play-off between the 12 second and four highest-ranked teams in the UEFA Nations League, namely the group winners of the 2024 edition/ 25 who have not yet validated their ticket for the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA play-offs.
