Talk:2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

March or June
What do sources say about the start date for CONMEBOL qualifying, since there's an obvious dispute over this? Jalen Folf  (talk)  06:07, 13 January 2023 (UTC)


 * I’m still seeing this dispute both here and at 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL), with no input on this thread since I posted it. Has there been any official announcement about this? Jalen Folf   (talk)  09:00, 16 March 2023 (UTC)
 * Can any of you please provide a source for the claim that qualification for CONMEBOL begins in September? Jalen Folf   (talk)  02:27, 20 March 2023 (UTC)
 * Actually ignore that, cause here's the first source I found on my own: https://apnews.com/article/south-american-qualifying-soccer-brazil-argentina-8fde865759c1dfe5d4989be10c2bafd7 Jalen Folf   (talk)  02:39, 20 March 2023 (UTC)
 * https://en.as.com/soccer/conmebol-confirm-dates-for-the-2026-world-cup-qualifiers-n/ Yokmann (talk) 18:03, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

Can we cut the 2nd rate "analysis"
One column "includes" hosts, one "excludes" hosts, yet we can compare them fairly? Teams that aren't entered in a tournament have been "eliminated" somehow? Play-offs are "1/3 of a spot" and that is some "value" for valid comparison. This page's level of vapidness is rising out control. 165.12.252.110 (talk) 00:39, 8 June 2023 (UTC)


 * Playoffs are clearly 1/3 spot? What are you on about? Bte3000 (talk) 16:53, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Russia
With Russia currently suspended, shouldn't the map of the qualified countries have Russsia in black (teams withdrew/suspended)? Or are we waiting for UEFA to officially state that they're still suspended for this round of WCQ? Nath1991 (talk) 23:23, 1 August 2023 (UTC)


 * I think we should wait for official word from UEFA. There is text in the UEFA section saying that Russia is currently suspended, which seems like the right way to handle the situation for now. Wburrow (talk) 15:32, 30 August 2023 (UTC)
 * The legend for the cyan color states that the qualification status has not been decided, which is not inaccurate; UEFA qualification is not set to begin until 2025, so it is entirely possible for Russia's suspension to be lifted in time to begin qualification. Similarly, Zimbabwe's suspension was lifted just before the CAF draw, and although Sri Lanka are still officially suspended they were included in the AFC draw with the caveat that their football association hold new elections at least 10 days before their first scheduled first round match. — Jkudlick &#x2693; (talk) 15:40, 30 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Agreed. Just FYI: Sri Lanka got their ban lifted on 27 Aug after agreeing to elections at the end of September. Wburrow (talk) 16:48, 30 August 2023 (UTC)

US 1/8 Finals
The USA has reached the 1/8 finals in the WC 2022. However, in the section of qualified teams and previous best, it states group. Zebbi67 (talk) 02:34, 11 October 2023 (UTC)


 * Change was already there and bettered. Look very carefully and you'll see the United States' best performance of "Third place" at the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Jalen Folf   (talk)  03:10, 11 October 2023 (UTC)

What are the tiebreakers?
Could someone please add the tiebreaker rules? I can't seem to find them anywhere. Also, does the away goals rule apply for home-and-away ties? Thanks. Sofeshue (talk) 06:14, 17 October 2023 (UTC)


 * The tiebreakers can vary depending upon the confederation, so the best place to find them would be the main confederation qualification article. The application of the away goals rule is also up to each confederation. For example, CAF is not applying the away goals rule for the 2024 CAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament, but we do not know whether AFC would have applied it to first round qualifying (as all ties ended with uneven scores) nor do we yet know whether CONCACAF will apply the away goals rule to the first round matches in March. There are no other home-and-away matches during this qualification cycle until the AFC fifth round. — Jkudlick &#x2693; (talk) 16:19, 17 October 2023 (UTC)


 * Na, I found it. The tiebrerakers are set by FIFA and are thus consistent across all confederations. The rules are described in Regulations FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition by articles 11.5, 11.9, 11.10. Sofeshue (talk) 00:22, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Laos and Brunei elimination
The elimination of Laos and Brunei are not reflected in the map. Suvannixb (talk) 06:52, 3 November 2023 (UTC)


 * The source image does indeed show Laos and Brunei eliminated. I'm not sure why the map is not rendering properly at Commons or in the article. — Jkudlick &#x2693; (talk) 16:17, 3 November 2023 (UTC)

Minor fix
The AFC group links to go Group A B C A B C A B C rather than A B C D E F G H I 110.33.28.251 (talk) 07:42, 3 November 2023 (UTC)

Eritrea withdrew from the competition
Eritrea withdrew from the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers:

https://bnn.network/sports/eritrea-withdraws-from-2026-world-cup-african-preliminaries-a-deep-dive-into-the-implications/ http://dehai.org/dehai/dehai-news/494254 Rumanovsk (talk) 14:19, 9 November 2023 (UTC)


 * I have updated the map on Commons, but it is taking a little while to synchronize between the servers. — Jkudlick &#x2693; (talk) 19:50, 9 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Following Eritrea's withdrawal, concerning the ranking of second-placed teams, as there is one team in less in Group E and in order to determine the 4 best runners-up, will only the results of the runner-up teams against the first, third, fourth and fifth-placed teams in their group be taken into account ? Does anyone know whether CAF and/or FIFA have communicated on this matter ? Pindrice (talk) 03:01, 11 November 2023 (UTC)
 * That is likely to be the case, and would be very unsporting if it is not. However, we should wait for any official announcement before making any changes to avoid WP:OR. — Jkudlick &#x2693; (talk) 14:53, 11 November 2023 (UTC)

Are not Taiwan, Turkmenistan, Hong Kong, and Nepal eliminated?
They are both indicted as so. Bte3000 (talk) 14:21, 27 March 2024 (UTC)


 * They are eliminated from WQ qualification but continue to the next round of Asian Cup qualification. That is why it is indicated as a Q rather than an E (eliminated). This is what the blue color means. Is that what you are referring to? Chris 1834  Talk 14:37, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * No, I was referring to the map issue. But that has since been resolved. Bte3000 (talk) 02:53, 28 March 2024 (UTC)


 * ¿Shouldn't this map be updated? --Genericool (talk) 14:48, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * From what I can see, these four countries are yellow on this map. This indicates elimination from WQ qualifying. What do you think needs updating? Chris 1834  Talk 15:12, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * I updated it a few minutes ago, but it's my first attempt at editing a map, so I hope I got it right. Wburrow (talk) 15:13, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * That makes sense. It looks right to me. Chris 1834  Talk 15:14, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * From personal experience, it can take some time for changes to the map on Commons to replicate on enWiki. Sometimes a WP:PURGE is necessary for the image to properly display. — Jkudlick &#x2693; (talk) 16:15, 28 March 2024 (UTC)

Shouldn't Argentina qualify immediately along with US, Canada and Mexico?
I mean, they won the last World Cup (as of writing) which would mean they would automatically qualify as defensive champions, like in other cases. 197.32.161.154 (talk) 11:19, 17 June 2024 (UTC)


 * The last defending champion to qualify automatically was France in 2002. Since then only hosts have received automatic bids. Wburrow (talk) 13:10, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

Date regarding goals scored before w qf started?
Why is there date regarding goals scored before w qf started? 2A02:A311:C040:3400:7449:7A4F:256C:44EE (talk) 09:03, 7 July 2024 (UTC)


 * I looked through this whole article and don't see what you are referring to. All I see about before qualification is the point reduction given to Ecuador which effects this qualifying so it should be included. Can you give more details about what you are referring to? Chris 1834  Talk 14:04, 8 July 2024 (UTC)