The international qualifiers are a crucial step for countries seeking to reach the finals of the world’s most important soccer tournament. The process is often grueling, and every match has the potential to have a huge impact on a nation’s qualification hopes. Throughout the qualifying stages, teams must maintain discipline and play well, while also trying to avoid any mistakes that could spell disaster.
International Qualifiers also feature some of the most exciting players in the world. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Kevin De Bruyne are household names who are often the subject of worldwide interest and scrutiny. The qualifiers are a chance for these stars to shine on the global stage and prove they have the abilities to compete at the highest level.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are entering their pressure-packed final stages. South America and Oceania have already wrapped up their qualifying processes, while Africa and Concacaf are preparing to enter the third round of group stage play.
This round of qualifications sees 54 teams divided into 12 groups, six with five nations and six with four. All teams will play a double round-robin of home-and-away matches, and the winners of each group will qualify for the World Cup. The two best runners-up will then enter the intercontinental play-offs. Each match in this stage is played over two legs, with the team that scores more goals progressing to the next phase.