May 20, 2026
UEFA on Wednesday said it would create a two-tier qualifying system for the 2030 World Cup that will be similar to the format used in the Champions League.
The top league will comprise 36 countries – determined by the restructured 2028/29 UEFA Nations League – and be divided into three groups of 12 teams.
Every team will play six home-or-away matches against six different opponents – two from each pot, mirroring the current format used in UEFA club competitions.
The best-ranked nations from the three League 1 groups will qualify for the World Cup, with the remaining places decided via play-offs.
