It would not really feel all that way back that Lionel Messi was formally topped the best to ever do it in Qatar, but eyes have firmly shifted to the 2026 World Cup.
There have been tournaments to take pleasure in in South America, Africa and Europe to take pleasure in within the aftermath of Messi’s crowning second, however every occasion lacks the attract and grand historical past of the World Cup. Nothing compares.
2026 represents a watershed event on this illustrious event’s historical past, with FIFA opting to develop the competitors additional by including 16 nations. 48 groups will thus compete for international supremacy in North America.
2022 was a event of unfamiliarity and setting recent precedents and 2026 is certain to supply new experiences regardless of the return of a June start line. Lots nonetheless has to occur earlier than focus will be positioned solely on North America, with UEFA’s qualifiers but to get underway.
Nevertheless, you’ll be able to’t ever put together too early for a World Cup. Right here, 90min particulars every thing we all know to date in regards to the draw for the 2026 event.
Preparations for the 2026 World Cup are nonetheless of their infancy with UEFA but to attract the teams for his or her qualification course of.
In consequence, it isn’t but know when the draw for the 2026 World Cup will happen. For the earlier event, the draw was held in April 2022 – over seven months earlier than Ecuador downed hosts Qatar within the event opener. On the time of the draw, three spots within the finals weren’t but confirmed, so the 2026 draw might happen earlier than the qualifying campaigns of the respective FIFA member associations conclude.
UEFA’s World Cup qualifying course of will not be wrapped up till March 2026, for instance.
The draw will possible be made earlier than then. The 2018 World Cup draw was held initially of December 2017 and the same date for the upcoming event is anticipated.
The place will the 2026 World Cup draw be held?
There aren’t any particulars as to the place the 2026 World Cup draw will happen. FIFA have three nations to select from, however the USA appears the most certainly alternative. There are, in fact, an infinite checklist of cities within the States the place the draw could possibly be held.
Maintain your horses, we’re not there but. Nevertheless, we do know that the three hosts – USA, Canada and Mexico – have routinely certified. There are nonetheless 45 spots up for grabs.
Qualifying campaigns throughout the globe will begin to conclude by the top of 2025, so there will be a clearer image of who’ll be competing on the 2026 World Cup as soon as the worldwide breaks roll round thick and quick initially of the 2025/26 season.
The cut up of the qualifiers is as follows: AFC (8), CAF (9), CONCACAF (6), CONMEBOL (6), OFC (1), UEFA (16).
An intercontinental play-off involving six non-UEFA-playing nations will resolve the ultimate two groups to qualify for the event.
There have been preliminary plans for the 48 groups to be divided into 16 teams of three, however FIFA have opted to retain four-team teams for the 2026 World Cup. Mexico, Canada and USA have been designated spots in Pot 1 and might be joined by FIFA’s 9 highest-ranked qualifiers.
Pot 2 might be manufactured from the subsequent 12 highest-ranked qualifiers, Pot 3 the 12 after that, whereas Pot 4 will comprise the 12 lowest-ranked members – together with those who qualify through the intercontinental and UEFA play-offs.
Nations from every pot will then be consigned to one of many 12 teams till the draw is full.
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