Uefa World Cup Qualifying 2024: Groups, Schedule, and How It Works

The 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign will determine which European nations will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The qualifying process will begin in March 2023 and conclude in November 2023.

A total of 55 Uefa member associations will compete for 13 places at the World Cup. The teams will be divided into 10 groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs. The play-offs will then determine the three remaining European teams that will qualify for the World Cup.

The Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign is always a fascinating and competitive affair, and the 2024 edition is sure to be no different. With so many talented teams competing for a limited number of places at the World Cup, there is sure to be plenty of drama and excitement along the way.

Uefa World Cup Qualifying 2024

Road to Canada, USA, Mexico.

55 Uefa teams competing.
10 groups of 5 or 6 teams.
Top 2 from each group to play-offs.
Play-offs in March 2024.
13 European teams to World Cup.
Qualifying begins March 2023.
Qualifying ends November 2023.
World Cup in June/July 2026.
Defending champions: Italy.
New format for 2026.

The Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign is a long and arduous process, but it is also a very exciting one. The best teams in Europe will be competing for a place at the World Cup, and there is sure to be plenty of drama and excitement along the way.

55 Uefa teams competing.

A total of 55 Uefa member associations will compete for 13 places at the World Cup. This means that almost every country in Europe will have a chance to qualify for the tournament.

All the big guns:
All of the top teams in Europe, such as Germany, France, England, and Spain, will be competing in the qualifiers. This means that we are sure to see some exciting and closely-fought matches.
Some underdogs to watch:
There are also a number of underdog teams who could cause an upset in the qualifiers. Teams like Iceland, Wales, and Ukraine have all shown in recent years that they can compete with the best teams in Europe.
New format for 2026:
The format of the qualifiers has changed for the 2026 World Cup. The teams will be divided into 10 groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs. This means that there are more opportunities for teams to qualify for the World Cup than ever before.
Road to Canada, USA, Mexico:
The 2026 World Cup will be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This will be the first time that the tournament has been held in three countries.

10 groups of 5 or 6 teams.

The 55 Uefa teams will be divided into 10 groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs. The teams will be seeded based on their Fifa ranking, with the top-ranked teams being placed in Pot 1 and the lowest-ranked teams being placed in Pot 10.

Five groups of five teams:
Five of the groups will consist of five teams. This means that each team in these groups will play eight matches, four at home and four away.
Five groups of six teams:
The other five groups will consist of six teams. This means that each team in these groups will play ten matches, five at home and five away.
Top two from each group advance:
The top two teams from each group will advance to the play-offs. This means that a total of 20 teams will compete in the play-offs.
Play-offs to determine final three qualifiers:
The play-offs will be held in March 2024. The 20 teams will be drawn into two paths, with the winners of each path qualifying for the World Cup.

The format of the qualifiers has been designed to give all teams a fair chance of qualifying for the World Cup. The play-offs will also add an extra layer of excitement to the qualifying campaign.

Top 2 from each group to play-offs.

The top two teams from each of the 10 qualifying groups will advance to the play-offs. This means that a total of 20 teams will compete in the play-offs for the final three European places at the World Cup.

The play-offs will be held in March 2024, after the conclusion of the group stage. The 20 teams will be divided into two paths, with the winners of each path qualifying for the World Cup.

The teams will be seeded for the play-offs based on their Fifa ranking. The top-ranked teams will be placed in Pot 1, the second-ranked teams will be placed in Pot 2, and so on.

The draw for the play-offs will be held in November 2023. The teams will be drawn into two paths, with each path consisting of 10 teams. The teams from Pot 1 will be drawn against the teams from Pot 2, the teams from Pot 3 will be drawn against the teams from Pot 4, and so on.

The play-offs will be played over two legs, with the first legs being played on March 21, 2024 and the second legs being played on March 28, 2024. The winners of each tie will qualify for the World Cup.

The play-offs are always a tense and exciting affair, and the 2024 edition is sure to be no different. With so many talented teams competing for a limited number of places at the World Cup, there is sure to be plenty of drama and excitement along the way.

Play-offs in March 2024.

The play-offs for the 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign will be held in March 2024, after the conclusion of the group stage.

20 teams competing:
A total of 20 teams will compete in the play-offs, with the top two teams from each of the 10 qualifying groups advancing.
Two paths:
The 20 teams will be divided into two paths, with the winners of each path qualifying for the World Cup.
Seeded draw:
The teams will be seeded for the play-offs based on their Fifa ranking. The top-ranked teams will be placed in Pot 1, the second-ranked teams will be placed in Pot 2, and so on.
Two-legged ties:
The play-offs will be played over two legs, with the first legs being played on March 21, 2024 and the second legs being played on March 28, 2024. The winners of each tie will qualify for the World Cup.

13 European teams to World Cup.

A total of 13 European teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

10 group winners:
The winners of each of the 10 qualifying groups will automatically qualify for the World Cup.
10 group runners-up:
The runners-up from each of the 10 qualifying groups will advance to the play-offs.
3 play-off winners:
The three winners of the play-offs will also qualify for the World Cup.
Total of 13 European teams:
This means that a total of 13 European teams will compete in the 2026 World Cup.

Qualifying begins March 2023.

The Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup will begin in March 2023, with the first matches being played on March 21 and 22. The qualifying campaign will run for over a year, with the final matches being played in November 2023.

The 55 Uefa member associations will be divided into 10 groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs. The play-offs will be held in March 2024, with the winners of each path qualifying for the World Cup.

The qualifying campaign is always a fascinating and competitive affair, with the best teams in Europe battling it out for a place at the World Cup. The 2023-24 campaign is sure to be no different, with a number of top teams looking to book their place in Qatar.

Some of the teams to watch in the qualifying campaign include:

Germany: The defending champions will be looking to qualify for their 20th World Cup.
France: The current world champions will be looking to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup.
England: The Three Lions will be looking to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup after reaching the semi-finals in 2018.
Spain: The 2010 world champions will be looking to qualify for their 12th consecutive World Cup.
Portugal: The reigning European champions will be looking to qualify for their eighth consecutive World Cup.

The Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign is always a long and arduous process, but it is also a very exciting one. The best teams in Europe will be competing for a place at the World Cup, and there is sure to be plenty of drama and excitement along the way.

Qualifying ends November 2023.

The Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup will end in November 2023, with the final matches being played on November 16 and 17.

All group matches completed:
By the end of November 2023, all of the group matches will have been completed, and the top two teams from each group will be known.
Play-offs in March 2024:
The play-offs to determine the final three European teams to qualify for the World Cup will be held in March 2024.
World Cup in June/July 2026:
The 2026 World Cup will be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico from June 11 to July 12, 2026.
Plenty of drama and excitement:
The final few months of the qualifying campaign are always full of drama and excitement, as teams battle it out for the remaining places at the World Cup.

World Cup in June/July 2026.

The 2026 World Cup will be the 23rd Fifa World Cup, the quadrennial international men’s football championship contested by the senior men’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).

Hosted by Canada, USA, and Mexico:
The tournament will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, making it the first World Cup to be hosted by three countries.
48 teams competing:
The World Cup will be expanded to include 48 teams, up from the current 32.
New format:
The tournament will feature a new format, with the 48 teams being divided into 16 groups of three.
Top two from each group advance:
The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, which will begin with a round of 32.

The 2026 World Cup is sure to be a memorable event, with the best teams in the world competing for the most prestigious prize in international football. The tournament will also be a great opportunity for fans to experience the unique cultures of Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Defending champions: Italy.

Italy are the defending champions of the Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign, having won the 2020 edition of the tournament. They will be looking to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup and their 21st World Cup overall.

Italy have a strong team, with a good mix of experienced players and exciting young talent. They are also one of the most consistent teams in Europe, having reached the semi-finals of the last two World Cups and the final of the last two European Championships.

However, Italy will face some tough competition in the qualifying campaign. They have been drawn in a difficult group, which includes England, Ukraine, and North Macedonia. They will also need to be wary of teams like Portugal, France, and Spain, who are all capable of winning the tournament.

Despite the challenges, Italy will be confident of qualifying for the World Cup. They have a strong team and a lot of experience in big tournaments. They will also be buoyed by the fact that they are the defending champions.

New format for 2026.

The 2026 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign will see a new format introduced, with the number of teams expanding from 32 to 48.

The 55 Uefa member associations will be divided into 10 groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs. The play-offs will then determine the three remaining European teams that will qualify for the World Cup.

The new format is designed to give more teams a chance to qualify for the World Cup. It will also make the qualifying campaign more competitive, as there will be more teams vying for a limited number of places.

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams has been met with mixed reactions. Some people believe that it will dilute the quality of the tournament, while others believe that it will make it more inclusive and exciting.

Only time will tell whether the new format for the Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign will be a success. However, one thing is for sure: it is sure to make the qualifying campaign more competitive and unpredictable than ever before.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about the 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign:

Question 1: How many teams will qualify for the World Cup from Uefa?
Answer: A total of 13 European teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Question 2: How will the teams be divided for the qualifying campaign?
Answer: The 55 Uefa member associations will be divided into 10 groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs.

Question 3: When will the qualifying campaign take place?
Answer: The qualifying campaign will begin in March 2023 and will conclude in November 2023.

Question 4: When will the play-offs take place?
Answer: The play-offs will take place in March 2024.

Question 5: How many teams will qualify for the World Cup from the play-offs?
Answer: Three teams will qualify for the World Cup from the play-offs.

Question 6: What is the new format for the 2026 World Cup?
Answer: The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams, up from the current 32. The teams will be divided into 16 groups of three, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

Question 7: Where will the 2026 World Cup be held?
Answer: The 2026 World Cup will be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

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I hope this FAQ has answered some of your questions about the 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign. For more information, please visit the official Uefa website.

Now that you know more about the qualifying campaign, here are some tips for following the action:

Tips

Here are some tips for following the 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign:

Tip 1: Follow the official Uefa website:
The Uefa website is the best place to find all the latest news, scores, and standings from the qualifying campaign.

Tip 2: Set up alerts for your favorite teams:
Many news websites and apps allow you to set up alerts for your favorite teams. This way, you can stay up-to-date on all the latest news and results.

Tip 3: Watch the matches live:
If you can, try to watch the matches live on TV or online. This is the best way to experience the excitement of the qualifying campaign.

Tip 4: Follow the matches on social media:
Social media is a great way to follow the matches and get real-time updates. Many teams and players have active social media accounts where they post updates and photos from the matches.

Closing Paragraph for Tips

By following these tips, you can stay up-to-date on all the latest news and results from the 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign.

Now that you know how to follow the qualifying campaign, here is a brief conclusion:

Conclusion

The 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign is sure to be a fascinating and competitive affair. With so many talented teams competing for a limited number of places at the World Cup, there is sure to be plenty of drama and excitement along the way.

The new format for the qualifying campaign will make it more competitive than ever before. With 48 teams competing for 13 places, there will be more opportunities for teams to qualify for the World Cup. However, it will also make it more difficult for the big teams to qualify, as they will have to be wary of the smaller teams who are capable of causing an upset.

The 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign will also be a good opportunity for fans to see some of the best players in the world in action. With so many talented players competing, there is sure to be some memorable moments and stunning goals.

Closing Message

I hope this article has given you a good overview of the 2024 Uefa World Cup Qualifying campaign. Be sure to follow the qualifying campaign closely, as it is sure to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable qualifying campaigns in history.