England, which has so far won all seven matches of the qualifying tournament, officially punched its ticket after a 5-0 victory over Latvia on Oct. 14. France and Croatia then joined in mid-November, followed by Norway and Portugal on Nov. 16 and Germany and the Netherlands on Nov. 17.

President Donald Trump again suggested World Cup matches at US venues could be changed if the administration is concerned about safety in that city.

A spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided on Monday in Leipzig, as Germany and Slovakia face off in their final matches in UEFA qualification.

The final World Cup participants won't be determined until March of 2026, following the draw for the World Cup groups. A playoff will take place in North America in March, including one team each from the following regions: AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, alongside two from Concacaf to determine the final two places in the World Cup.

Forty-eight nations will compete in the newly-expanded format in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, attempting to etch their name into the history books and join the pantheon of greats to have lifted the golden trophy aloft. Many have already qualified for the tournament but only a handful of countries harbor genuine hopes of world domination.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching next summer — but first, the ceremonial pomp of the World Cup draw, still to be held this winter.

Get the latest 2026 FIFA World Cup odds, favorites to win, and betting analysis from top sportsbooks. Track line movement, group odds, top scorer prices, and more.

Here’s a full breakdown of the 2026 World Cup group stage draw. The World Cup draw will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Friday, Dec. 5 at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT, 5 p.m. GMT).