The international window in September 2025 is underway, prompting thoughts about which teams will secure spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At present, alongside co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, ten teams have already qualified. It’s exciting to consider who will fill the remaining 48 spots at next summer’s tournament.
Taking a closer look at Oceania, Africa, and Asia reveals the state of the qualifying process. Oceania and Asia have teams confirmed for the 2026 World Cup, while Africa saw its first qualifying team emerge during this September window. Starting with Oceania, the World Cup qualifiers wrapped up last year. New Zealand came out on top, clinching a spot in the tournament while defeating New Caledonia in the final match of the Oceania qualifiers. New Caledonia, as the runner-up, will head to inter-confederation playoffs in March.
In Asia, Japan became the first team confirmed for the 2026 World Cup. They were soon joined by Iran, Uzbekistan (making their debut), South Korea, Jordan (also debuting), and Australia. There are still two additional spots available for teams from the Asian Football Union, with one more team set to participate in the inter-confederation playoffs.
The fourth round of qualifiers has the remaining teams divided into two groups. Group A consists of Qatar (as host), UAE, and Oman. Group B includes Saudi Arabia (also the host), Iraq, and Indonesia. Matches are scheduled for October, with Qatar set to host Group A games while Saudi Arabia will manage Group B. Each team will face the others once, and the group winner will earn a direct spot in the World Cup. The runner-ups will advance to a fifth round of qualification, which involves a two-legged home and away series in November, determining who grabs the inter-confederation spot.
In Group A, the teams are closely matched. The match on October 14 between Qatar and the UAE will be a crucial test, as both teams will aim to beat Oman in their respective matches. Over in Group B, the highlight will be the clash between Saudi Arabia and Iraq on the same date. The winner is likely to take the group, assuming both teams manage to secure victories against Indonesia, which might struggle.
As for teams in Africa, there hasn’t been a direct qualification yet for the 2026 World Cup. Nonetheless, some movement took place in the September window. With four games left, several teams are in a promising position for qualification. The nine group winners will get a spot in the World Cup, while the top four runner-ups will aim for the inter-confederation playoff.
Key matches are set for September 9, featuring teams that are in tight contention within their groups. Dr. Congo will host Senegal, Cape Verde will welcome Cameroon, and Gabon will challenge Ivory Coast in what promises to be a significant match. Winners could really shift their group standings, enhancing their chances of direct qualification.
Teams Most Likely to Compete in September
Morocco secured its spot this week with two victories, partly due to a draw for Tanzania. Egypt, meanwhile, kept its hopes alive with a win in Burkina Faso. Some teams may need to wait until October to finalize their places, depending on their performance and the fortunes of teams trailing them.
Nigeria is currently in fourth place in Group C and will face the top two teams on September 6. They play Rwanda first, followed by a match in South Africa on September 9. Nigeria must score points to re-enter contention for the group, but failing to do so could jeopardize their chances of even making it to the CAF playoffs.
