2026 World Cup Qualifiers – Europe & Africa

A global race has already begun.

The road to the 2026 World Cup promises to be thrilling. Qualifiers are in full swing in Europe and Africa, with a major prize at stake: securing a place in the biggest competition on the planet.
The 2026 edition will be historic: for the first time, 48 nations will participate in the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This opens the door to more teams, more dreams… and more excitement for fans around the world.

⚽ Europe on battle footing

The European continent now has 16 qualifying places , a record. Traditional nations like France, Spain, England, and Germany are considered favorites, but the new format makes the competition more open than ever.

The qualifying format

Europe has 12 groups of four or five teams.

The winners of each group qualify directly.
The runners-up can go through play-offs to be held in the spring of 2026.

The schedule runs from March to November 2025 , before the dams in March 2026.
In other words, a real race against time to secure a ticket to North America.

Nations to watch

Some teams are confirming their status: France remains solid, Spain is impressing, and England is quickly securing its place. But the real surprise often comes from the outsiders: Nordic nations, Balkans, or Eastern European teams, capable of causing an upset.

For fans, it's also the perfect time to get your hands on the official team jerseys , symbols of national pride and football passion.

🦁 Africa on the rise

On the African side, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has nine direct qualification spots , plus a potential one via the intercontinental playoffs. This is a historic first that reflects the growing strength of African football.

An expanded and intense format

The African teams are divided into 9 groups , where only the winner of each group qualifies. The two best runners-up will compete in a playoff to try and reach the inter-confederation tournament.

The confrontations are spectacular: clashes between traditional giants (Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon) and ambitious emerging nations (Comoros, Tanzania, Guinea, Cape Verde…).

A unique fervor

On the African continent, the qualifiers are much more than a tournament: they are true popular celebrations. Stadiums vibrate, supporters fill the stands, and national team jerseys are sold as symbols of identity and pride.

At PlanetFoot, we clearly feel it: the jerseys of African national teams are experiencing growing demand. Algeria, Morocco, Senegal or Egypt, each team has its colors, its style and its history.

🌍 A global challenge, a shared passion

Whether in Europe or Africa, these qualifiers share the same essence: the dream of participating in the 2026 World Cup.
The biggest names in football fight to maintain their prestige, while new faces emerge. This diversity and intensity are what make world football so beautiful.

🧠 For enthusiasts: why follow the qualifiers?

Guaranteed suspense — Every match counts. Surprises and plot twists are frequent.
New nations to discover — The opening of the tournament allows more teams to dream and attract new supporters.
Collectible jerseys — The qualifiers are an opportunity to release new official kits, often highly sought after by fans.
A global atmosphere — From stadiums in Europe to those in Africa, the passion for football unites all cultures around the same goal.

🏪 PlanetFoot, at the heart of global passion

On PlanetFoot.com and in our stores in Perpignan and Le Perthus , we closely follow every major step in world football.
We offer official national team jerseys , training kits , and all accessories from major European and African national teams .
Whether you support France, Morocco, Senegal or Spain, you will always find the outfit that embodies your passion.

🏁 In conclusion

The qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are much more than just a competition: it's a collective adventure where every victory, every jersey, every anthem counts.
And at PlanetFoot we believe that a true supporter lives these moments to the fullest — on the pitch, in front of their screen, and in their official kit.

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