The expanded 2026 World Cup will begin to take shape on Friday with the qualifying draw.
The number of nations competing across the United States, Canada and Mexico will be 48, up from 32, of which 16 will be European.
As such, qualifying for European teams is spread across 12 groups, of which six will have four times and the other six will have five.
Here’s what else you need to know…
When is 2026 World Cup qualifying draw?
The draw will be held in Zurich, Switzerland, at FIFA’s headquarters.
The ceremony will begin at 11am UK time.
How to watch 2026 World Cup qualifying draw?
The draw will be broadcast on FIFA’s website, YouTube channel and on-demand TV service, FIFA+
UK viewers can watch the draw in full via the BBC Sport website.
Teams from each pot will be drawn and placed in separate groups. No teams from the same pot can be drawn into the same group.
There is no restriction over England, in Pot 1, being drawn with Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Once the groups are completed, teams will play each other twice – home and away – with the top team in each group qualifying for the World Cup.
Those who finish second will enter a play-off round.
Pot 1: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria
Pot 2: Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway
Pot 3: Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel
Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania
Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino
When will the games be played?
The first matches will begin during the next international break, which is between March 21-25, 2025.
They will continue over the following four breaks – June 6-10, September 4-9, October 9-14 and November 13-18. The play-offs are scheduled for March 26-21, 2026.
