Wikipedia

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)

The North, Central American and Caribbean section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, for national teams which are members of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Three direct slots and two inter-confederation play-off slots in the final tournament were available for CONCACAF teams.

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
Tournament details
Dates22 March 2024 – November 2025
Teams32 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played33
Goals scored115 (3.48 per match)
Attendance108,954 (3,302 per match)
Top scorer(s)Curaçao Rangelo Janga
Jamaica Shamar Nicholson
(3 goals each)
← 2022
2030 →
All statistics correct as of 11 June 2024.

Format

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On 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which included six direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off spots for the CONCACAF region. However, in a change of format from previous World Cups, there would be no dedicated host country slot, with the slots of automatically qualifying host countries now taken from the quota of its confederation. If the tournament were to be co-hosted, the FIFA Council would decide which host countries would qualify automatically.[1] On 13 June 2018, three members of CONCACAF—Canada, Mexico and the United States—were selected as hosts for the 2026 World Cup by the 68th FIFA Congress.[2]

On 14 February 2023, the FIFA Council awarded automatic berths for all three host countries, leaving three direct slots and two inter-confederation play-off slots to be decided through CONCACAF qualification.[3] On 28 February, CONCACAF announced the qualifying format for 2026 World Cup qualification.[4]

  • First round: Four CONCACAF teams, ranked 29 to 32 based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, were divided into two matchups, played on a two-legged home-and-away basis. The two winners advanced to the second round.
  • Second round: Thirty teams, the two winners from the first round and CONCACAF teams ranked 1 to 28 based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, were drawn into six groups of five teams. They will play single round-robin matches (two home and two away), with group winners and runners-up qualifying for the third round.
  • Third round: The twelve teams advancing from the second round will be drawn into three groups of four teams. They will play double round-robin home-and-away matches, with the three group winners qualifying for the World Cup. The two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Entrants

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As Canada, Mexico and the United States were awarded automatic berths as co-hosts, they did not enter qualifying. The remaining 32 FIFA-affiliated national teams from CONCACAF entered qualification. Based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, the top 28 teams received a bye to the second round, while the lowest four teams entered the first round.[5]

From the December 2023 FIFA World Rankings[6]
Second round pot 1 Second round pot 2 Second round pot 3
  1.   Panama (41)
  2.   Costa Rica (52)
  3.   Jamaica (55)
  4.   Honduras (76)
  5.   El Salvador (78)
  6.   Haiti (89)
  1.   Curaçao (90)
  2.   Trinidad and Tobago (96)
  3.   Guatemala (108)
  4.   Nicaragua (134)
  5.   Antigua and Barbuda (142)
  6.   Suriname (143)
  1.   Saint Kitts and Nevis (147)
  2.   Dominican Republic (151)
  3.   Guyana (157)
  4.   Puerto Rico (160)
  5.   Saint Lucia (167)
  6.   Cuba (169)
Second round pot 4 Second round pot 5 Competing in first round
  1.   Bermuda (171)
  2.   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (173)
  3.   Grenada (174)
  4.   Montserrat (176)
  5.   Barbados (178)
  6.   Dominica (180)
  1.   Belize (182)
  2.   Aruba (193)
  3.   Cayman Islands (197)
  4.   Bahamas (202)

Schedule

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The CONCACAF schedule for qualification is as follows.[4]

Round Matchday Dates[7]
First round First leg 22 March 2024
Second leg 26 March 2024
Second round Window 1 5–11 June 2024
Window 2 4–10 June 2025
Third round Matchday 1 1–9 September 2025
Matchday 2
Matchday 3 6–14 October 2025
Matchday 4
Matchday 5 10–18 November 2025
Matchday 6

First round

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Main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF first round

The bottom four CONCACAF teams, ranked 29 to 32 based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, were divided into two matchups to be played on a two-legged home-and-away basis. The pairings were predetermined, with the 29th ranked team facing the 32nd ranked team, and the 30th ranked team facing the 31st ranked team. The two winners advanced to the second round.[4]

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Anguilla  1–1 (4–3 p)  Turks and Caicos Islands0–01–1 (a.e.t.)
U.S. Virgin Islands  1–1 (2–4 p)  British Virgin Islands1–10–0 (a.e.t.)

Second round

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Main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF second round

The draw took place on 25 January 2024 in Zürich, Switzerland.[8]

The top twenty-eight CONCACAF teams in the FIFA rankings of December 2023 entered in the second round, joined by the two winners of the first round. Teams were drawn into six groups of five teams, and will play single round-robin matches (two home and two away). The six group winners and six group runners-up will advance to the third round.[4]

Group A

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Honduras 2 2 0 0 9 2 +7 6 Advance to third round — 3–1 — 10 Jun —
2   Cuba 2 1 0 1 4 3 +1 3 — — 3–0[a] — 10 Jun
3   Cayman Islands 2 1 0 1 1 3 −2 3 7 Jun — — 1–0 —
4   Antigua and Barbuda 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1 — 6 Jun — — 1–1
5   Bermuda 2 0 1 1 2 7 −5 1 1–6 — 4 Jun — —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ Cuba were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit after Cayman Islands were unable to travel to Cuba due to visa issues stemming from the United States government's policy on travel to Cuba.[9]

Group B

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Costa Rica 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 6 Advance to third round — 10 Jun 4–0 — —
2   Trinidad and Tobago 2 1 1 0 9 3 +6 4 — — 6 Jun 2–2 —
3   Saint Kitts and Nevis 2 1 0 1 1 4 −3 3 — — — 10 Jun 1–0
4   Grenada 2 0 1 1 2 5 −3 1 0–3 — — — 4 Jun
5   Bahamas 2 0 0 2 1 8 −7 0 7 Jun 1–7 — — —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Curaçao 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6 Advance to third round — — 6 Jun — 4–1
2   Haiti 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 6 10 Jun — 2–1 — —
3   Saint Lucia 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 1 — — — 2–2 10 Jun
4   Aruba 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 1 0–2 7 Jun — — —
5   Barbados 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0 — 1–3 — 4 Jun —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Nicaragua 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7 6 Advance to third round — — 6 Jun 4–1 —
2   Panama 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6 10 Jun — 2–0 — —
3   Guyana 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 — — — 10 Jun 3–1
4   Montserrat 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0 — 1–3 — — 4 Jun
5   Belize 2 0 0 2 1 7 −6 0 0–4 7 Jun — — —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group E

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Guatemala 2 2 0 0 9 0 +9 6 Advance to third round — — 6 Jun 6–0 —
2   Jamaica 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2 6 10 Jun — 1–0 — —
3   Dominican Republic 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 3 — — — 10 Jun 4–0
4   Dominica 2 0 0 2 2 9 −7 0 — 2–3 — — 4 Jun
5   British Virgin Islands 2 0 0 2 0 7 −7 0 0–3 7 Jun — — —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification          
1   Suriname 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7 6 Advance to third round — 6 Jun — 4–1 —
2   Puerto Rico 2 1 1 0 8 0 +8 4 — — — 10 Jun 8–0
3   El Salvador 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4 10 Jun 0–0 — — —
4   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0 — — 1–3 — 4 Jun
5   Anguilla 2 0 0 2 0 12 −12 0 0–4 — 7 Jun — —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Third round

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In the third round, the twelve teams advancing from the second round will be drawn into three groups of four teams. They will play double round-robin home-and-away matches, with the three group winners qualifying for the World Cup. The two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.[4]

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2026 FIFA World Cup
2 A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible inter-confederation play-offs based on ranking
3 A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 A4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2026 FIFA World Cup
2 B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible inter-confederation play-offs based on ranking
3 B3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 B4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 C1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2026 FIFA World Cup
2 C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible inter-confederation play-offs based on ranking
3 C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 C4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Ranking of second-placed teams

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Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A Second place Group A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to inter-confederation play-offs
2 B Second place Group B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C Second place Group C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Inter-confederation play-offs

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Main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)

The best two runners-up from the third round will join one team each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[10]

Qualified teams

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The following teams from CONCACAF qualified for the final tournament.

Team Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA World Cup[a]
  Canada Co-hosts 14 February 2023[b] 2 (1986, 2022)
  Mexico Co-hosts 14 February 2023[b] 17 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
  United States Co-hosts 14 February 2023[b] 11 (1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022)
TBD Third round Group A winners 2025
TBD Third round Group B winners 2025
TBD Third round Group C winners 2025

Notes

  1. ^ Italic indicates hosts for that year.
  2. ^ a b c Although the United bid was selected on 13 June 2018, the automatic berths allocated to the hosts were not confirmed until a decision by the FIFA Council on 14 February 2023.[3]

Top goalscorers

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There have been 115 goals scored in 33 matches, for an average of 3.48 goals per match (as of 11 June 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.

3 goals

2 goals

Below are full goalscorer lists for each round:

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Council prepares Congress, takes key decisions for the future of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  2. ^ Graham, Bryan Armen (13 June 2018). "North America to host 2026 World Cup after winning vote over Morocco – as it happened". The Guardian.
  3. ^ a b "FIFA Council highlights record breaking revenue in football". FIFA. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "CONCACAF announces formats for men's national team competitions for the 2023–2026 cycle". CONCACAF. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Draw Procedures for the CONCACAF Preliminary Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26" (PDF). FIFA. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ^ "FIFA Men's Ranking – December 2023". FIFA. 21 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Men's International Match Calendar 2023–2030" (PDF). FIFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Draw reveals groups for second round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers". CONCACAF. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Cayman forfeits Cuba game after first match win in WC". Cayman News. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
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