2026 World Cup Draw: Spain among the top seeds for the qualifying phase

FIFA reveals the distribution of the five European pots for the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw, which will take place on December 13th in Zurich.

The top seeds for the qualifying draw will be the eight quarterfinalists of the Nations League: Spain, Croatia, Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Portugal, along with the four highest-ranked teams in the UEFA standings: England, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria.

Once the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals are played, the national team will know if it will be part of a group with 4 or 5 teams in the qualifying phase. If eliminated, Spain will be in a group of 5 teams; but if it qualifies, it will play in a group of 4.

The group phase will start in March 2025 and will end in November. The remaining 54 UEFA member associations will be divided into twelve groups of 4 or 5 teams.

Groups 1 to 6 will have four teams and will begin the qualifying phase in September next year, while groups 7 to 12 will have five teams and will start in March 2025. The 12 group winners will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and the other four spots will be decided through the playoff, contested by 16 other teams.

Draw Pots:

• Pot 1 (12 teams): France, Spain, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria
• Pot 2 (12 teams): Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway
• Pot 3 (12 teams): Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel
• Pot 4 (12 teams): Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Belarus, Kosovo, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania
• Pot 5 (6 teams): Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino

Spain, a contender to win the 2026 World Cup

After the last European Championship as continental champions, eliminating Italy, France, Germany, and England, four former world champions, La Roja is currently in third place in the FIFA rankings behind Argentina and France.

After the success in the Nations League last June 18, with Spain's victory over Luka Modric's Croatia, Spain is now the best team on the continent.

Following a disappointment in the Qatar World Cup, eliminated by Morocco, the appointment of Luis de la Fuente has rejuvenated the team and brought the Spanish national team back to life.

With the arrival of young talents such as Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Fermín, and Nico Williams, Spain is shaping up to be a formidable opponent. With its eyes set on the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Spain aims to establish itself as one of the top favorites for the title, backed by its impressive evolution.