Keep track of the fixtures and schedule for World Cup 2026 European qualifying as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland start on the road to the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Thomas Tuchel’s England side have been drawn in a five-team Group K which also includes Serbia, while Steve Clarke’s Scotland face a tricky Group C that also contains Portugal and Denmark.

The groups in full…

Group A

Germany or Italy (Nations League QF winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg

Group B

Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo

Group C

Portugal or Denmark (Nations League QF loser), Greece, Scotland, Belarus

Group D

France or Croatia (Nations League QF winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan

Group E

Spain or Netherlands (Nations League QF winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria

Group F

Portugal or Denmark (Nations League QF winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia

Group G

Spain or Netherlands (Nations League QF loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta

Group H

Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino

Group I

Germany or Italy (Nations League QF loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova

Group J

Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein

Group K

England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra

Group L

France or Croatia (Nations League QF loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar

World Cup 2026 European qualifiers: Key dates

• Group-stage match dates: March 21-25, June 6-10, September 4-9, October 9-14 and November 13-18, 2025
• Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
• Final tournament dates: June 11 to July 19 2026

European Qualifiers – full fixture list

Matches kick off at 7.45pm unless stated – all times GMT

Matchday 1

March 21, 2025: Malta vs Finland (Group G)
March 21, 2025: Poland vs Lithuania (Group G)
March 21, 2025: Cyprus vs San Marino (Group H)
March 21, 2025: Romania vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group H)
March 21, 2025: Andorra vs Latvia (Group K)
March 21, 2025: England vs Albania (Group K)

March 22, 2025: Liechtenstein vs North Macedonia (Group J) – kick-off 2pm
March 22, 2025: Moldova vs Norway (Group I) – kick-off 5pm
March 22, 2025: Montenegro vs Gibraltar (Group L) – kick-off 5pm
March 22, 2025: Israel vs Estonia (Group I)
March 22, 2025: Wales vs Kazakhstan (Group J)
March 22, 2025: Czech Republic vs Faroe Islands (Group L)

Matchday 2

March 24, 2025: Lithuania vs Finland (Group G)
March 24, 2025: Poland vs Malta (Group G)
March 24, 2025: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Cyprus (Group H)
March 24, 2025: San Marino vs Romania (Group H)
March 24, 2025: Albania vs Andorra (Group K)
March 24, 2025: England vs Latvia (Group K)

March 25, 2025: Israel vs Norway (Group I)
March 25, 2025: Moldova vs Estonia (Group I)
March 25, 2025: Liechtenstein vs Kazakhstan (Group J)
March 25, 2025: North Macedonia vs Wales (Group J)
March 25, 2025: Gibraltar vs Czech Republic (Group L)
March 25, 2025: Montenegro vs Faroe Islands (Group L)

Matchday 3

June 6, 2025: Estonia vs Israel (Group I)
June 6, 2025: Norway vs Loser of Germany/Italy (Group I)
June 6, 2025: North Macedonia vs Belgium (Group J)
June 6, 2025: Wales vs Liechtenstein (Group J)
June 6, 2025: Czech Republic vs Montenegro (Group L)
June 6, 2025: Gibraltar vs Loser of France/Croatia (Group L)

June 7, 2025: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs San Marino (Group H) – kick-off 2pm
June 7, 2025: Malta vs Lithuania (Group G) – kick-off 5pm
June 7, 2025: Andorra vs England (Group K) – kick-off 5pm
June 7, 2025: Finland vs Loser of Spain/Netherlands (Group G)
June 7, 2025: Austria vs Romania (Group H)
June 7, 2025: Albania vs Serbia (Group K)

Matchday 4

June 9, 2025: Kazakhstan vs North Macedonia (Group J) – kick-off 3pm
June 9, 2025: Estonia vs Norway (Group I)
June 9, 2025: Loser of Germany/Italy vs Moldova (Group I)
June 9, 2025: Belgium vs Wales (Group J)
June 9, 2025: Faroe Islands vs Gibraltar (Group L)
June 9, 2025: Loser of France/Croatia vs Czech Republic (Group L)

June 10, 2025: Finland vs Poland (Group G)
June 10, 2025: Spain/Netherlands* Malta (Group G)
June 10, 2025: Romania vs Cyprus (Group H)
June 10, 2025: San Marino vs Austria (Group H)
June 10, 2025: Latvia vs Albania (Group K)
June 10, 2025: Serbia vs Andorra (Group K)

Matchday 5

September 4, 2025: Kazakhstan vs Wales (Group J) – kick-off 3pm
September 4, 2025: Georgia vs Turkey (Group E) – kick-off 5pm
September 4, 2025: Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland (Group A)
September 4, 2025: Slovakia vs Winner of Germany/Italy (Group A)
September 4, 2025: Bulgaria vs Winner of Spain/Netherlands (Group E)
September 4, 2025: Lithuania vs Malta (Group G)
September 4, 2025: Loser of Spain/Netherlands vs Poland (Group G)
September 4, 2025: Liechtenstein vs Belgium (Group J)

September 5, 2025: Slovenia vs Sweden (Group B)
September 5, 2025: Switzerland vs Kosovo (Group B)
September 5, 2025: Greece vs Belarus (Group C)
September 5, 2025: Loser of Portugal/Denmark vs Scotland (Group C)
September 5, 2025: Iceland Azerbaijan (Group D)
September 5, 2025: Ukraine vs Winner of France/Croatia (Group D)
September 5, 2025: Moldova vs Israel (Group I)
September 5, 2025: Loser of Germany/Italy vs Estonia (Group I)
September 5, 2025: Faroe Islands vs Loser of France/Croatia (Group L)
September 5, 2025: Montenegro vs Czech Republic (Group L)

September 6, 2025: Latvia vs Serbia (Group K) – kick-off 2pm
September 6, 2025: Armenia vs Winner of Portugal or Denmark* (Group F) – kick-off 5pm
September 6, 2025: England vs Andorra (Group K) – kick-off 5pm
September 6, 2025: Republic of Ireland vs Hungary (Group F)
September 6, 2025: Austria vs Cyprus (Group H)
September 6, 2025: San Marino vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group H)

Matchday 6

September 7, 2025: Georgia vs Bulgaria (Group E) – kick-off 2pm
September 7, 2025: North Macedonia vs Liechtenstein (Group J) – kick-off 5pm
September 7, 2025: Luxembourg vs Slovakia (Group A)
September 7, 2025: Winner of Germany/Italy vs Northern Ireland (Group A)
September 7, 2025: Turkey vs Winner of Spain/Netherlands (Group E)
September 7, 2025: Lithuania vs Loser of Spain/Netherlands (Group G) – kick-off 7.45pm or 5pm)
September 7, 2025: Poland vs Finland (Group G)
September 7, 2025: Belgium vs Kazakhstan (Group J)

September 8, 2025: Kosovo vs Sweden (Group B)
September 8, 2025: Switzerland vs Slovenia (Group B)
September 8, 2025: Belarus vs Scotland (Group C)
September 8, 2025: Greece vs Loser of Portugal/Denmark (Group C)
September 8, 2025: Israel vs Loser of Germany/Denmark (Group I)
September 8, 2025: Norway vs Moldova (Group I)
September 8, 2025: Gibraltar vs Faroe Islands (Group L)
September 8, 2025: Loser of France vs Croatia vs Montenegro (Group L)

September 9, 2025: Azerbaijan vs Ukraine (Group D) – kick-off 5pm
September 9, 2025: Armenia vs Republic of Ireland – kick-off 5pm
September 9, 2025: Winner of France/Croatia vs Iceland (Group D)
September 9, 2025: Hungary vs Winner of Portugal/Denmark (Group F)
September 9, 2025: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Austria (Group H)
September 9, 2025: Cyprus vs Romania (Group H)
September 9, 2025: Albania vs Latvia (Group K)
September 9, 2025: Serbia vs England – (Group K)

Matchday 7

October 9, 2025: Belarus vs Loser of Portugal/Denmark (Group C)
October 9, 2025: Scotland vs Greece (Group C)
October 9, 2025: Finland vs Lithuania (Group G)
October 9, 2025: Malta vs Loser of Spain/Netherlands (Group G)
October 9, 2025: Austria vs San Marino (Group H)
October 9, 2025: Cyprus vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group H)
October 9, 2025: Czech Republic vs Loser of France/Croatia (Group L)
October 9, 2025: Faroe Islands vs Montenegro (Group L)

October 10, 2025: Kazakhstan vs Liechtenstein (Group J) – kick-off 3pm
​​​​October 10, 2025: Northern Ireland vs Slovakia (Group A)
October 10, 2025: Winner of Germany/Italy vs Luxembourg (Group A)
October 10, 2025: Kosovo vs Slovenia (Group B)
October 10, 2025: Sweden vs Switzerland (Group B)
October 10, 2025: Iceland vs Ukraine (Group D)
October 10, 2025: Winner of France/Croatia vs Azerbaijan (Group D)
October 10, 2025: Belgium vs North Macedonia (Group J)

October 11, 2025: Latvia vs Andorra (Group K) – kick-off 2pm
October 11, 2025: Hungary vs Armenia (Group F) – kick-off 5pm
October 11, 2025: Norway vs Israel (Group I) – kick-off 5pm
October 11, 2025: Bulgaria vs Turkey (Group E)
October 11, 2025: Winner of Spain/Netherlands vs Georgia (Group E)
October 11, 2025: Winner of Portugal/Denmark vs Republic of Ireland (Group F)
October 11, 2025: Estonia vs Loser of Germany/Italy (Group A)
October 11, 2025: Serbia vs Albania (Group K)

Matchday 8

October 12, 2025: San Marino vs Cyprus (Group H) – kick-off 2pm
October 12, 2025: Scotland vs Belarus (Group C) – kick-off 5pm
October 12, 2025: Faroe Islands vs Czech Republic (Group J) – kick-off 5pm
October 12, 2025: Loser of Portugal/Denmark vs Greece (Group C)
October 12, 2025: Lithuania vs Poland (Group G)
October 12, 2025: Loser of Span/Netherlands vs Finland (Group G) – kick-off 7.45pm or 5pm
October 12, 2025: Romania vs Austria (Group H)
October 12, 2025: Loser of France/Croatia vs Gibraltar (Group L)

October 13, 2025: Northern Ireland vs Winner of Germany/Italy (Group A)
October 13, 2025: Slovakia vs Luxembourg (Group A)
October 13, 2025: Slovenia vs Switzerland (Group B)
October 13, 2025: Sweden vs Kosovo (Group B)
October 13, 2025: Iceland vs Winner of France/Croatia (Group D)
October 13, 2025: Ukraine vs Azerbaijan (Group D)
October 13, 2025: North Macedonia vs Kazakhstan (Group J)
October 13, 2025: Wales vs Belgium (Group J)

October 14, 2025: Turkey vs Georgia (Group E)
October 14, 2025: Winner of Spain/Netherlands vs Bulgaria (Group E)
October 14, 2025: Republic of Ireland vs Armenia (Group F)
October 14, 2025: Winner of Portugal/Denmark vs Hungary (Group F)
October 14, 2025: Estonia vs Moldova (Group I)
October 14, 2025: Loser of Germany/Italy vs Israel (Group I)
October 14, 2025: Andorra vs Serbia (Group K)
October 14, 2025: Latvia vs England (Group K)

Matchday 9

November 13 2025: Azerbaijan vs Iceland (Group D) – kick-off 5pm
November 13 2025: Armenia vs Hungary (Group F) – kick-off 5pm
November 13 2025: Norway vs Estonia (Group I) – kick-off 5pm
November 13 2025: Winner of France/Croatia vs Ukraine (Group D)
November 13 2025: Republic of Ireland vs Winner of Portugal/Denmark (Group F)
November 13 2025: Moldova vs Loser of Germany/Italy (Group I)
November 13 2025: Andorra vs Albania (Group K)
November 13 2025: England vs Serbia (Group K)

November 14 2025: Finland vs Malta (Group G) – kick-off 5pm
November 14 2025: Luxembourg vs Winner of Germany/Italy (Group A)
November 14 2025: Slovakia vs ​​​​​​​Northern Ireland (Group A)
November 14 2025: Poland vs Loser of Spain/Netherlands (Group G)
November 14 2025:Gibraltar vs Montenegro (Group L)
November 14 2025: Loser of France/Croatia vs Faroe Islands (Group L)

November 15 2025: Kazakhstan vs Belgium (Group J) – kick-off 2pm
November 15 2025: Georgia vs Winner of Spain/Netherlands (Group E) – kick-off 5pm
November 15 2025: Turkey vs Bulgaria (Group E) – kick-off 5pm
November 15 2025: Cyprus vs Austria (Group H) – kick-off 5pm
November 15 2025: Liechtenstein vs Wales (Group J) – kick-off 5pm
November 15 2025: Slovenia vs Kosovo (Group B)
November 15 2025: Switzerland vs Sweden (Group B)
November 15 2025: Greece vs ​​​​​​​Scotland (Group C)
November 15 2025: Loser of Portugal/Denmark vs Belarus (Group C)
November 15 2025: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Romania (Group H)

Matchday 10

November 16, 2025: Hungary vs Republic of Ireland (Group F) – kick-off 2pm
November 16, 2025: Winner of Portugal/Denmark vs Armenia (Group F) – kick-off 2pm
November 16, 2025: Azerbaijan vs Winner of France/Croatia (Group D) – kick-off 5pm
November 16, 2025: Ukraine vs Iceland (Group D) – kick-off 5pm
November 16, 2025: Albania vs England (Group K) – kick-off 5pm
November 16, 2025: Serbia vs Latvia (Group K) – kick-off 5pm
November 16, 2025: Israel vs Moldova (Group I)
November 16, 2025: 20:45 I QF4 DFT GER/ITA* Norway – kick-off 7.45pm

November 17, 2025: Northern Ireland vs Luxembourg (Group A)
November 17, 2025: Winner of Germany/Italy vs Slovakia (Group A)
November 17, 2025: Malta vs Poland (Group G)
November 17, 2025: Loser of Spain/Netherlands vs Lithuania (Group G)
November 17, 2025: Czech Republic vs Gibraltar (Group L)
November 17, 2025: Montenegro vs Loser of France vs Croatia (Group L)

November 18, 2025: Kosovo vs Switzerland (Group B)
November 18, 2025: Sweden vs Slovenia (Group B)
November 18, 2025: Belarus vs Greece (Group C)
November 18, 2025: Scotland vs Loser of Portugal/Denmark (Group C)
November 18, 2025: Bulgaria vs Georgia (Group E)
November 18, 2025: Winner of Spain/Netherlands vs Turkey (Group E)
November 18, 2025: Austria vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group A)
November 18, 2025: Romania vs San Marino (Group H)
November 18, 2025: Belgium vs Liechtenstein (Group J)
November 18, 2025: Wales vs North Macedonia (Group J)

How does European qualifying work?

A total of 16 European nations will compete at the 48-team FIFA men’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

European qualifiers begin in March 2025, with the play-offs in March 2026.

Teams were drawn into 12 groups of four and five teams, with the groups involving teams in UEFA Nations League quarter-final action finalised after those ties in March, with the four winners placed in groups of four.

Qualifying begins in March, with teams drawn in groups of four starting their campaigns in September. They will play traditional home-and-away matches and “all play all” principles retained. All groups conclude in November 2025.

How many European teams qualify for the 2026 World Cup?

In total, 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 12 group winners qualify directly for the World Cup; the four remaining berths are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.

How do play-offs for the 2026 World Cup work?

The 12 group runners-up will participate in the play-offs, along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not finish their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.

The 16 teams who enter the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths, with four teams in each. Play-off matches will be played in single-leg semi-finals followed by single-leg finals within the same international window in March 2026.

When and where is the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The tournament will take place across 16 cities in three North American countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three nations.

The last time North America hosted the tournament was in 1994, when Brazil triumphed after beating Italy on penalties.

An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams – 16 more than in Qatar 2022 – and take place across three host nations for the first time.

2026 World Cup venues – host cities and stadiums

USA

Dallas Stadium – Arlington, Texas (capacity 94,000)
New York New Jersey Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (capacity 82,500)
Atlanta Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia (capacity 75,000)
Kansas City Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri (73,000)
Houston Stadium – Houston, Texas (capacity 72,000)
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium – Santa Clara, California (71,000)
Los Angeles Stadium – Inglewood, California (70,000)
Philadelphia Stadium – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (69,000)
Seattle Stadium – Seattle, Washington (capacity 69,000)
Boston Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts (65,000)
Miami Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida (capacity 65,000)

Canada

Toronto Stadium – Toronto (capacity: 45,000)
BC Place Vancouver – Vancouver (capacity 54,000)

Mexico

Estadio Azteca Mexico City – Mexico City (capacity 83,000)
Estadio Monterrey – Guadalupe (capacity 53,500)
Estadio Guadalajara – Zapopan (capacity 48,000)

World Cup 2026 schedule

The full fixture list with group games and kick-off times will only be available after the draw for the final tournament, which FIFA says is expected to take place towards the end of 2025.

But FIFA has already announced key dates and confirmed that the opening match will be held in Mexico City, with the final taking place at the New York New Jersey Stadium – home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Group stage: June 11-27 Round of 32: June 28 to July 3 Round of 16: July 4-7 Quarter-finals: July 9-11 Semi-finals: July 14-15 Third-place play-off (‘Bronze final’): July 18 Final: July 19