2026 World Cup - European qualifiers

[Jackson Harrison]

If it is based on nations league positions then if they any of them are in the top 3 in their nations league group then they will be a top seed, so ignore any idiots who say otherwise

It will be based on FIFA Ranking.

I'd appreciate it if you didn't call people idiots.

[dopeisland]

If it is based on nations league positions then if they any of them are in the top 3 in their nations league group then they will be a top seed, so ignore any idiots who say otherwise

Seeding for World Cup Qualifiers can only be based on FIFA Rankings, by rule

[Jackson Harrison]

If it is based on nations league positions then if they any of them are in the top 3 in their nations league group then they will be a top seed, so ignore any idiots who say otherwise

Seeding for World Cup Qualifiers can only be based on FIFA Rankings, by rule

No. There is a clause that allows other rankings to be used with dispensation or FIFA Council.

[dopeisland]

If it is based on nations league positions then if they any of them are in the top 3 in their nations league group then they will be a top seed, so ignore any idiots who say otherwise

Seeding for World Cup Qualifiers can only be based on FIFA Rankings, by rule

No. There is a clause that allows other rankings to be used with dispensation or FIFA Council.

Ah, so there is! Has it ever been used?

[Tazmania]

This is the first time it has appeared in the regulations and it was inserted for FIFA to use the 2024/25 UNL ranking; FIFA used the world ranking for the draws in the other confederations (excluding Conmebol of course).

[Jackson Harrison]

Seeding for World Cup Qualifiers can only be based on FIFA Rankings, by rule

No. There is a clause that allows other rankings to be used with dispensation or FIFA Council.

Ah, so there is! Has it ever been used?

It was used in 2022 to allow UEFA PO draw to be seeded by group RU ranking!

[Kev]

In case of deadlock I’d speculate that there is a backup plan which UEFA could employ (though they have made no mention of in their comms) which is to play 5 matches (rather than 4) on some of the double matchdays in deadlocked groups where 4 countries aren’t available in March to catch up on any missed matches - so each country plays twice albeit playing one of the matches on the first Wednesday of the international window to ensure rest days. An example of fixtures might be:

Wed - 1v2, Thu - 3v4, Sat - 5v1, Tue - 2v3 and 4v5

I like this idea of using the scheduling that Concacaf is using.

A possible solution is this:

Instead of having the Draw after the Nations League Group phase is completed, it could be done straight after the March window. That way the Nations League quarter finals and promotion/relegation playoffs are completed, meaning there would be no need for placeholder teams.

The pots would be organised how they are traditionally done based on FIFA ranking, with 12 best teams in Pot 1, followed by the next 12 in Pot 2 etc.
At the draw the four semi finalists could be put in a different coloured ball (for example, red) to the rest.
Starting with Pot 5 through to Pot 1, the teams are drawn out into groups alphabetically from A-L with the four team groups in A-F. The red balls in each pot are drawn out first, with each semi finalist placed in a group of four into the position of their pot.

Groups of four will commence qualifying on September, and groups of five in June using the method quoted previously.

For example:
(June window)
June 12 1 v 2 and 3 v 4, June 15 5 v 1, June 18 2 v 3 and 4 v 5
(September window)
Sep 9 1 v 3 and 5 v 2, Sep 12, 2 v 4, Sep 15 4 v 1 and 3 v 5

October and November windows would be the reverse of the above, so that all teams play 4 home and 4 away.

Also playoffs for Nations Lesgue C and D could be played March 2025, rather than March 2026, so that all teams are available for WC playoffs in March 2026.

With this said, is this feasible, and another question is would it be too late for UEfA to adopt this method?

[Overgame]

not all UEFA teams are European (Israel, Kazakhstan, Armenia) and others only partly (Spain, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iceland, Portugal (?)).
Also Malta (on the African plate) and Cyprus (Asia) are technically not European.

Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy are mainly in Europe though
Russia is mainly in Asia but the main part is in Europe
Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan are mainly in Asia

Also Denmark, Netherlands, France and UK have territories on other continents, but those territories generally have their own football teams

I am amazed by this reply. This is the typical "double standards + special pleading".
Malta shouldn't be in UEFA because Malta is "on the african plate"? Ok, then Europe doesn't exist, we are on the Eurasian plate and there isn't any "european plate".
Or do you want arbitrary divisions? There you go, UEFA decided that these countries can be called "european", for football matters.

[Korgutt]

I like this idea of using the scheduling that Concacaf is using.

A possible solution is this:

Instead of having the Draw after the Nations League Group phase is completed, it could be done straight after the March window. That way the Nations League quarter finals and promotion/relegation playoffs are completed, meaning there would be no need for placeholder teams.

The pots would be organised how they are traditionally done based on FIFA ranking, with 12 best teams in Pot 1, followed by the next 12 in Pot 2 etc.
At the draw the four semi finalists could be put in a different coloured ball (for example, red) to the rest.
Starting with Pot 5 through to Pot 1, the teams are drawn out into groups alphabetically from A-L with the four team groups in A-F. The red balls in each pot are drawn out first, with each semi finalist placed in a group of four into the position of their pot.

Groups of four will commence qualifying on September, and groups of five in June using the method quoted previously.

For example:
(June window)
June 12 1 v 2 and 3 v 4, June 15 5 v 1, June 18 2 v 3 and 4 v 5
(September window)
Sep 9 1 v 3 and 2 v 5, Sep 12, 4 v 2, Sep 15 1 v 4 and 3 v 5

October and November windows would be the reverse of the above, so that all teams play 4 home and 4 away.

Also playoffs for Nations Lesgue C and D could be played March 2025, rather than March 2026, so that all teams are available for WC playoffs in March 2026.

With this said, is this feasible, and another question is would it be too late for UEfA to adopt this method?

So in march you will have A lot of friendlies? Involving number 4 from League A, number 1 and 4 from League B, number 1,3 and 4 from League C and whole League D.

[Kev]

I like this idea of using the scheduling that Concacaf is using.

A possible solution is this:

Instead of having the Draw after the Nations League Group phase is completed, it could be done straight after the March window. That way the Nations League quarter finals and promotion/relegation playoffs are completed, meaning there would be no need for placeholder teams.

The pots would be organised how they are traditionally done based on FIFA ranking, with 12 best teams in Pot 1, followed by the next 12 in Pot 2 etc.
At the draw the four semi finalists could be put in a different coloured ball (for example, red) to the rest.
Starting with Pot 5 through to Pot 1, the teams are drawn out into groups alphabetically from A-L with the four team groups in A-F. The red balls in each pot are drawn out first, with each semi finalist placed in a group of four into the position of their pot.

Groups of four will commence qualifying on September, and groups of five in June using the method quoted previously.

For example:
(June window)
June 12 1 v 2 and 3 v 4, June 15 5 v 1, June 18 2 v 3 and 4 v 5
(September window)
Sep 9 1 v 3 and 2 v 5, Sep 12, 4 v 2, Sep 15 1 v 4 and 3 v 5

October and November windows would be the reverse of the above, so that all teams play 4 home and 4 away.

Also playoffs for Nations Lesgue C and D could be played March 2025, rather than March 2026, so that all teams are available for WC playoffs in March 2026.

With this said, is this feasible, and another question is would it be too late for UEfA to adopt this method?

So in march you will have A lot of friendlies? Involving number 4 from League A, number 1 and 4 from League B, number 1,3 and 4 from League C and whole League D.

Yes pretty much those teams could play friendlies in March, and the teams from the four team groups minus the semi finalists could play friendlies in June

[anty1975]

This is the first time it has appeared in the regulations and it was inserted for FIFA to use the 2024/25 UNL ranking; FIFA used the world ranking for the draws in the other confederations (excluding Conmebol of course).

Is it confirmed that they will use UNL ranking instead of FIFA ranking?

[amenina]

This is the first time it has appeared in the regulations and it was inserted for FIFA to use the 2024/25 UNL ranking; FIFA used the world ranking for the draws in the other confederations (excluding Conmebol of course).

Is it confirmed that they will use UNL ranking instead of FIFA ranking?

The seeding method has not been officially confirmed.

[Korgutt]

This is the first time it has appeared in the regulations and it was inserted for FIFA to use the 2024/25 UNL ranking; FIFA used the world ranking for the draws in the other confederations (excluding Conmebol of course).

Is it confirmed that they will use UNL ranking instead of FIFA ranking?

The seeding method has not been officially confirmed.

About the 8 nations in NL quarterfinals. Is it possible to see a situation there they are not in the same seeding Pot in the draw?

[Tazmania]

It is unlikely.

While we await official confirmation, it’s certain FIFA will use the final 2024-25 UNL GS ranking to seed the WCQ draw.

[Kev]

It is unlikely.

While we await official confirmation, it’s certain FIFA will use the final 2024-25 UNL GS ranking to seed the WCQ draw.

But still possible. At the moment 6 (Scotland, Poland, Israel, Bosnia, Hungary and Serbia) of the 16 teams in League A are outside Pot 1. Only takes one of those to make the quarter finals to make a placeholder team in the draw complicated if they are from different FIFA pots.