International qualifiers take place during international windows when club football is paused, and the results of these matches will have a major impact on which teams qualify for the next World Cup. The qualifiers are split into several rounds, and the winning team will be awarded one of 32 berths for the 2026 tournament in Qatar.
The first round, known as the open qualifiers, are held in the spring of 2023 and 2024, with sides playing each other twice. The top two sides in each group progress to the second stage. Here, they are placed in groups of six nations who play each other home and away. The top three in each group qualify for the World Cup. The two runners-up will then compete in an inter-confederation playoff to determine the final two places.
In the Americas, the co-hosts have already qualified and a tight battle has opened up for the remaining three places. Mexico and Costa Rica are unbeaten after two rounds, and Brazil, Peru and Ecuador will also likely qualify from their groups. Honduras, Bermuda, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao and Guyana are all in good positions to secure a spot through their remaining games.
The remaining five places from Asia are at an earlier stage, with Iran and South Korea currently positioned well to progress. Japan are also still undefeated, while Australia are a point clear of Saudi Arabia with four to play.
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