At the end of a final day full of suspense, the European phase of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers delivered its verdict. Croatia, England, France and Norway secured their direct ticket by masterfully dominating their respective groups, confirming their status as sure values of the continent. Spain, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands also validated their qualification without trembling, while Austria also managed to find their way to a World Cup for the first time since 1998, just like Scotland.
In the wake of these teams already determined on their fate, Belgium and Switzerland have also won the head of their group and are also invited among the direct qualifiers. This last day ends a dense and sometimes unpredictable competition, where several nations were able to raise their level to avoid the pitfall of the play-offs. Now it’s time to prepare for a World Cup which promises to be more open than ever.
The 12 qualified Europeans:
- France
- Croatia
- England
- Norway
- Spain
- Portugal
- Scotland
- Belgium
- Germany
- The Netherlands
- Swiss
- Austria
