The lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is becoming clearer as the final round of European qualifiers comes to a close.
On Monday night, two of football’s biggest nations, Germany and the Netherlands, officially booked their tickets to the tournament with dominant victories.
Germany and Netherlands Secure Their Spots
After a shaky start to their campaign, Germany finished strong. They secured their place with a crushing 6-0 victory over Slovakia on Monday. This comes as a relief for German fans, as the four-time World Cup champions are eager to redeem themselves after being knocked out in the group stages of the last two tournaments.
The Netherlands also celebrated qualification on Monday. The Dutch team completed an impressive, unbeaten run through their group, sealing the deal with a comfortable 4-0 win against Lithuania. While the Netherlands has never won the World Cup, finishing as runners-up three times, they will head to the 2026 edition hoping to finally lift the trophy.
Who Else Is In?
Germany and the Netherlands join a growing list of European heavyweights who have already qualified:
France: The two-time champions secured their spot recently with a 4-0 win over Ukraine, led by star forward Kylian Mbappé.
Portugal and Norway: Both nations have also successfully navigated their groups to guarantee their places in the 2026 tournament.
Who Is Still Fighting?
While some teams are celebrating, others still have work to do in their outstanding games:
Spain: All eyes are now on Spain. The 2010 champions are looking to “ice” their spot in the World Cup in their final qualifier match against Turkiye. A positive result will see them join their European neighbors.
The Playoff Hopefuls
For teams like Slovakia and Poland, the direct route to the World Cup is closed, but hope is not lost. They will head to the playoffs for a second chance at qualification. The draw to decide who plays whom in these high-stakes knockout games takes place this Thursday.
Heartbreak in Africa
The qualification process has delivered a major shock. Nigeria, usually a powerhouse in African football, will miss the 2026 World Cup. They were eliminated after a 1-1 draw with DR Congo led to a penalty shootout loss. While Nigeria is out, DR Congo advances to the inter-confederation playoffs, keeping their World Cup dream alive.
Automatically Qualified Hosts
United States
Mexico
Canada
Europe (UEFA)
Germany
Netherlands
France
Portugal
Norway
England
Croatia
Africa (CAF)
Morocco
Tunisia
Egypt
Algeria
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Cape Verde
South Africa
Senegal
Asia (AFC)
Japan
Iran
South Korea
Australia
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Uzbekistan
Jordan
South America (CONMEBOL)
Argentina
Brazil
Ecuador
Uruguay
Colombia
Paraguay
Oceania (OFC)
New Zealand
