3rd spherical: The eighteen teams that Highly developed from the second round were being divided into three groups of 6 groups to Perform household-and-absent round-robin matches.
Rankings have only been active For the reason that 1994 World Cup, exactly where Germany went in as leaders only to be replaced by eventual winners Brazil.
The expanded quantities have frequently intended a far more serene route to your finals for the normal heavyweights. As being the listing below reveals, Italy (rated 12th) have been the sole nation in FIFA's best 19 not to get guaranteed their location prior to the ultimate spherical of playoffs in March 2026, the place they ended up becoming defeated on penalties by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Their marketing campaign was marked by quite robust protection, various property wins which includes more than Venezuela and Argentina, and a significant 0-0 draw away to Peru that sealed their spot.
The South American qualifying format stays unchanged, featuring all ten CONMEBOL users enjoying in a spherical-robin format the place the best six groups qualify immediately, as well as seventh-placed crew innovations towards the 2026 intercontinental playoffs.
This pattern ongoing in 2022 with Brazil knocked out during the quarterfinals as Argentina claimed the trophy.
Nigeria, who very last skilled in 2018, failed to progress immediately after shedding to DR Congo on penalties in the final match of the CAF Participate in-offs. This marked The very first time the nation didn't qualify for consecutive World Cups due to the fact ahead of their very first effective qualification in 1994.
Bonus points for away matches: Regardless of the last match end result, the away crew is presented 0.three further points for playing a match absent from your home. There'll be no absent bonus points to the teams, In case the match is played on neutral grounds.
The 2026 World Cup marked The 1st time OFC was granted a person guaranteed slot, as well as a achievable 2nd slot through the inter-confederation Enjoy-offs.
Italy then led for a short time on the again of their own Similarly prosperous World Cup qualifying marketing campaign, after which the top area was re-claimed by Germany.
The highest two groups of each and every team certified read more to the World Cup, when the 3rd-put and fourth-positioned teams of each and every team advanced for the fourth spherical.
The winners of These matches Innovative to Engage in the highest two teams in a further round of single-elimination matches, and the winners certified for your World Cup. The Perform-offs were held in March 2026 in Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico.[seventy five]
For particular matches in which entire protection is just not readily available, Are living rankings will only be current at full-time
Second spherical: The winning workforce from the main round joined the 7 optimum-ranked groups in two four-workforce groups in Oct and November 2024. The very best two groups from Just about every group advanced to your third spherical.