World Cup 2026

[Silver Fox]

Halfway through third round CONCACAF qualifying - group winners go to the World Cup, groups currently led by Suriname, Curacao and Honduras.

Those #lads must of been as pleased with the choice of hosts as the hosts themselves

[Sutekh]

The World Cup draw takes place on 5 December at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

The outstanding UEFA play off games will be played in March 2026.

[Hendo]

[Clyde1998]

Qatar beat the UAE 2-1 to qualify themselves today. The winners of Saudi Arabia vs Iraq will also qualify.

The UAE and the losers of that game will go into a two-legged play-off in November for the intercontinental play-offs.

[Clyde1998]

The World Cup draw takes place on 5 December at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

The outstanding UEFA play off games will be played in March 2026.

Does mean the UEFA and inter-confederation play-off winners will be in Pot 4 - so sides like Italy and Turkey.

After last night's games, FootballMeetsData suggested the pots will be (based on projected qualifiers):

1. United States; Mexico; Canada; Spain; Argentina; France; England; Portugal; Brazil; Netherlands; Belgium; Germany
2. Croatia; Morocco; Colombia; Uruguay; Switzerland; Senegal; Denmark; Japan; Iran; South Korea; Ecuador; Australia
3. Austria; Panama; Norway; Egypt; Algeria; Paraguay; Tunisia; Ivory Coast; Costa Rica; Uzbekistan; Saudi Arabia; South Africa
4. UAE; Jordan; Cape Verde; Jamaica; Ghana; New Zealand; Italy (play-off); Turkey (play-off); Ukraine (play-off); Scotland (play-off); Bolivia (play-off); DR Congo (play-off)

Think Qatar beating the UAE would put them in Pot 3, ahead of South Africa.

[Silver Fox]

Updated qualifiers list, with Europe joining the party

Canada
Mexico
USA
Japan
New Zealand
Iran
Argentina
Jordan
Korea Republic
Uzbekistan
Australia
Ecuador
Brazil
Uruguay
Paraguay
Colombia
Morocco
Tunisia
Egypt
Algeria
Ghana
Cabo Verde
South Africa
Qatar
England
Senegal
Cote D'Ivoire
Saudi Arabia

[Winston Biscuit]

ICH

[6ft Kerplunk]

This international break felt like its went on for about a month.

[Sanguine]

African teams into the regional play-offs - Gabon v Nigeria, DR Congo v Cameroon, winners play each other to determine African representative in the inter-confederation play-offs.

Asia will be represented at those play-offs by Iraq or UAE.

[Hendo]

African teams into the regional play-offs - Gabon v Nigeria, DR Congo v Cameroon, winners play each other to determine African representative in the inter-confederation play-offs.

Asia will be represented at those play-offs by Iraq or UAE.

Benin really shit the bed losing 4-0 to Nigeria.

[Sanguine]

African teams into the regional play-offs - Gabon v Nigeria, DR Congo v Cameroon, winners play each other to determine African representative in the inter-confederation play-offs.

Asia will be represented at those play-offs by Iraq or UAE.

Benin really shit the bed losing 4-0 to Nigeria.

They did. And in doing so helped Nigeria push Burkina Faso out of the playoff spots by one goal.

[Winston Biscuit]

African play off semi's and final being played in mid November in Morocco

Nigeria Vs Gabon
Cameroon Vs DR Congo

winner goes into the inter-confederation play-offs next March

[Pepe the Horseman]

Morocco win the U20s World Cup, beating Brazil and Spain in the group stage, France in the semis, and Argentina in the final.

[Clyde1998]

Ireland are 2-0 up against Portugal at half-time. Would blow that group wide open going into the final round of fixtures if Ireland were to win.

[Royal Rother]

Morocco win the U20s World Cup, beating Brazil and Spain in the group stage, France in the semis, and Argentina in the final.

Missed that. It deserved at least a from someone.

[Clyde1998]

Morocco win the U20s World Cup, beating Brazil and Spain in the group stage, France in the semis, and Argentina in the final.

Missed that. It deserved at least a from someone.

Maybe, although it can come down to simply what players have developed earlier than others. Youth tournaments can be won by some less than obvious teams - Ghana won it 2009; Serbia won it in 2015 (under Paunovic); Ukraine won it in 2019 against South Korea in the final.

The U16/U17 World Cup has been won by Nigeria five times; Ghana twice; and Mexico twice.

[Sutekh]

Ireland are 2-0 up against Portugal at half-time. Would blow that group wide open going into the final round of fixtures if Ireland were to win.

Ronny sent off when Ireland already 2 up. Result unlikely to change much though in a group that’ll see Portugal and Hungary qualify. Ireland have basically kept their chance of finishing 2nd if they win in Hungary on Sunday. Would have to totally destroy Hungary and win by about 4 or 5 to get above Portugal in the table though.

[Sanguine]

Two more goals for Haaland, he now has 53 in 47 caps for Norway, and ten in his last three games. Norway have all but secured their spot at the World Cup.

He's also approaching quite an obscure record. He has scored in each of his last ten international matches - if he scores in Italy on Sunday evening, he will equal the record of 11 set by Malaysia's Abdul Ghani Minhat in 1962.

[Stranded]

Two more goals for Haaland, he now has 53 in 47 caps for Norway, and ten in his last three games. Norway have all but secured their spot at the World Cup.

He's also approaching quite an obscure record. He has scored in each of his last ten international matches - if he scores in Italy on Sunday evening, he will equal the record of 11 set by Malaysia's Abdul Ghani Minhat in 1962.

Yeah Norway are there bar a 4 goal defeat.

In Africa, a late goal for DR Congo eliminated Cameroon whilst Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 (ET) - the winners meet on Monday to play-off for a spot in the intercontinental tournament in March.

[Sanguine]

Yeah Norway are there bar a 4 goal defeat.

I for one am here for Italy failing to qualify again, a third time in a row.

Ekitike got his first goal for France last night, and it's a beauty.

https://x.com/UtdXQueku/status/1989239176064065840

Arne Slot take note - wide left is his best position. What's telling - and as noted on the link - is his footballing intelligence to play the one-two, when many strikers would have just shot from range. He's been a brilliant signing.