The 2026 FIFA World Cup is inching closer with less than two months to go until the expanded 48-team tournament in North America across Canada, Mexico and the United States gets underway.

Qualification for the tournament began last autumn and we are well into qualification campaigns in Africa, Asia, North America and South America but the Oceanian qualifying competition begins this week, too.

So, without further ado, this is a round-up of what has happened and what is happening in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification during this September international break…

AFRICA (CAF)

Slots available: 9 + 1 playoff
This week: N/A

ASIA (AFC)

Slots available: 8 + 1 playoff
This week: Two matchdays in the second group stages 

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Asian qualification has already progressed through the preliminary round and the first group stage phase. Now we have 18 teams split into three groups of six with the top two qualifying for the tournament, third and fourth heading into another repechage group stage round and fifth and sixth being eliminated.

The first two rounds of fixtures, of ten, take place this week and there are some standout matches to keep an eye on. A Gulf derby between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates gives both sides a chance to throw a cat amongst the pigeons in a group that consists of Iran and Uzbekistan. 

The second round of fixtures is headlined once again in Group A with the UAE taking on Iran in Abu Dhabi. Group B is set to be clearcut with South Korea and Iran the heavy favourites, whilst Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia are probably in what is the so-called ‘group of death’ in Group C. All 18 teams will play twice with the first round on Thursday and the second round of fixtures on Friday. 

EUROPE (UEFA)

Slots available: 16
This week: N/A

NORTH AMERICA (CONCACAF)

Slots available: 3 hosts + 3 + 2 playoffs
This week: N/A

OCEANIA (OFC)

Slots available: 1 + 1 playoff
This week: Preliminary round semi-finals and final

Oceania are, for the first time ever, guaranteed a team in the next FIFA World Cup with another getting a playoff. The preliminary round features the four lowest ranked sides playing off to join the eight other sides of OFC in two groups of four. The top two from those groups then head into a semi-final and a final. The winner of the final qualifies automatically with the runner up heading into the intercontinental playoffs.

Cook Islands take on Tonga in the semi-finals with American Samoa facing Samoa – who are heavy favourites for the four-team tournament, especially with both semis and the final taking place in the capital of Samoa, Apia. 

SOUTH AMERICA (CONMEBOL)

Slots available: 6 + 1 playoff
This week: Seventh and eighth match days in the league

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The South American qualification campaign allows for 60% and maybe even 70% of the entrants to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but the format of 18 matches, playing every team home and away remains, and we are already a third of the way through the tournament.

Double South American champions and defending world champions Argentina have won five out of six as they gear up to stay at the top-of-the-table with a home game against Chile before then facing Colombia next week. Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay were the team to beat Argentina an his impressive side face Paraguay and Venezuela during this break.

The standout story from qualifying has been the continued underperformance of Brazil with the five-time world champions sitting sixth and a point above Paraguay, who they face after playing Ecuador this week. Chile are also a point behind the Brazilians and they have a chance to collect three points when they host Bolivia next week after facing Argentina.

QUALIFIED: Canada / Mexico / United States