Resolution criteria

The 2026 World Cup will feature 12 groups of 4 teams, with the top 2 of each group and the 8 best third-placed teams progressing to a round of 32. This market resolves YES for any country that finishes in the top 2 of their group or qualifies as one of the 8 best third-placed teams. Resolution will be determined by official FIFA records at https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026 after the group stage concludes on June 27, 2026.

For the playoff options (European Play-Off paths and FIFA Play-Off tournaments), they resolve YES if the winning team qualifies for the round of 32. The European Play-Off semifinals occur March 26, 2026, with finals on March 31, 2026. The FIFA Play-Off Tournament occurs in March 2026 in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico.

Background

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will decide the 45 teams that will join hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 42 teams have now qualified for the 48-team tournament, with European heavyweights France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain securing their spots during the November international break. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all qualified for the first time, with Curaçao becoming the smallest nation to ever qualify.

Considerations

A play-off tournament involving six teams – one each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC and two from CONCACAF – will be held to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths. The bottom four teams in the November 2025 FIFA World Rankings were drawn into two single-elimination matches, with winners advancing to play the top two teams in further single-elimination matches. The play-offs will be held in March 2026 in Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico.