12 European National Teams Qualify Directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The European qualification group stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded on Tuesday. Twelve winners of the qualifying groups earned direct tickets to the final stage of the global championship. These teams are Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Belgium, England, and Croatia. Another 12 European national teams that finished second in the qualifying groups will continue their journey in the playoff round, where four spots are up for grabs. Slovakia, Kosovo, Denmark, Ukraine, Turkey, Ireland, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Wales, Albania, and Czech Republic will compete in the playoffs. Four more teams will join them after advancing from the playoffs through the Nations League. These teams include Romania, Northern Ireland, Sweden, and North Macedonia. The draw to determine the four playoff round groups will take place in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday. The tournament is scheduled to be held in March 2026.