2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 September 2023 – 31 March 2026 |
| Teams | 206 (from 6 confederations) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 883 |
| Goals scored | 2,480 (2.81 per match) |
| Attendance | 15,127,393 (17,132 per match) |
| Top scorer | Erling Haaland (16 goals) |
← 2022 2030 →
All statistics correct as of 18 November 2025. | |
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will decide the 45 teams that will join hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Qualification began on 7 September 2023 with three matches of the CONMEBOL zone played that day. The first goal of the qualification series was scored by Colombian player Rafael Santos Borré against Venezuela.
Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all qualified for the first time, with Curaçao becoming the smallest nation to ever qualify, while Qatar had their first successful qualifying campaign after making their debut in the previous edition as hosts.