There are a total of 16 UEFA berths available at the 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the 12 qualifying group winners assured of a final tournament place along with the four eventual play-off winners.
Croatia (Group L), England (Group K), France (Group D), Germany (Group A), Netherlands (Group G), Norway (Group I) and Portugal (Group F) have confirmed their places at the finals, which run from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
UEFA.com keeps track of the qualifiers as they are confirmed and runs the rule over the European contenders.
How does qualification work?
In total, 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 12 group winners qualify directly for the World Cup; the four remaining berths are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not finish their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
CROATIA
How they qualified: Group L winners
Best World Cup performance: Runners-up (2018)
Most recent appearance: 2022 (third place)
A nation that continues to punch above its weight, 2018 runners-up Croatia again qualified relatively comfortably after taking six wins and one draw from their first seven games. Midfield maestro Luka Modrić continues to pull the strings at 40 years old, while coach Zlatko Dalić has already guided his country to a World Cup final and semi-final along with a UEFA Nations League showpiece, and will be hungry for another deep run in the tournament.
ENGLAND
How they qualified: Group K winners
Best World Cup performance: Winners (1966)
Most recent appearance: 2022 (quarter-finals)
The UEFA EURO 2024 runners-up began a new era when Thomas Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate after that showpiece defeat by Spain in Berlin and the German coach has certainly made his mark. England secured qualification after just six games and finished with a 100% record in Group K, scoring 22 goals while conceding none. The talismanic Harry Kane continues to lead the line, but the supporting cast has grown ever deeper, with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Elliot Anderson particularly impressive.
FRANCE
How they qualified: Group D winners
Best World Cup performance: Winners (1998, 2018)
Most recent appearance: 2022 (runners-up)
Les Bleus will be aiming to reach a third World Cup final in a row after topping Group D to secure an eighth consecutive qualification. With an outrageously talented squad led by star striker Kylian Mbappé, Didier Deschamps’ side will no doubt be considered one of the favourites to go all the way again in North America.
GERMANY
How they qualified: Group A winners
Best World Cup performance: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
Most recent appearance: 2022 (group stage)
Julian Nagelsmann’s side stumbled out of the blocks with a 2-0 loss to Slovakia, but a 6-0 victory in the reverse fixture in their final qualifier sent Germany to the finals with a spring in their step. The class of 2014 have now retired from the international stage, but a new generation including Florian Wirtz and target man Nick Woltemade will lead the charge for a fifth global title.
NETHERLANDS
How they qualified: Group G winners
Best World Cup performance: Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
Most recent appearance: 2022 (quarter-finals)
After an intense battle for first spot with Poland, Netherlands eventually came out on top with victory over Lithuania on the final day. Aided by Memphis Depay’s eight goals, and led by the inspirational Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, Oranje have high hopes they can put the disappointment of three previous final defeats behind them and finally win the World Cup for the first time.
NORWAY
How they qualified: Group I winners
Best World Cup performance: Round of 16 (1938, 1998)
Most recent appearance: 1998 (round of 16)
Norway will be appearing at a World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years after impressively beating Italy to secure top spot in Group I. The relentless Erling Haaland scored an extraordinary 16 goals, while fellow Premier League star Martin Ødegaard tallied seven assists. If both players are on song in North America, Norway could well spring a surprise or two.
PORTUGAL
How they qualified: Group F winners
Best World Cup performance: Third place (1966)
Most recent appearance: 2022 (quarter-finals)
Through to their seventh edition in a row, Portugal sealed their place after breezing past Armenia on Matchday 10. Vitinha, João Neves and Bruno Fernandes make things tick in midfield, while Cristiano Ronaldo is still pouring in the goals up front. Yet to reach a final in eight attempts, the Seleção look well equipped to go the distance this time in what could be 40-year-old Ronaldo’s swansong on the international stage.
Lowdown: European Qualifiers
Play-offs via the Nations League
The 12 group runners-up will participate in the play-offs, along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not finish their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
Nations League path A group winners: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France
Path B group winners: England, Norway, Wales, Czechia
Path C group winners: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
Path D group winners: Moldova, San Marino
The final overall 2024/25 Nations League rankings can be found here.
