Football writer Ben Bloom explains the state of play for Premier League players who are still striving to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
So far, 34 nations have secured their places at next summer’s FIFA World Cup, ranging from big names such as England and the holders Argentina to tournament debutants Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
In an expanded 48-team tournament, that leaves 14 spots still to be filled, and some of those will be claimed on Tuesday.
Europe
Tuesday's final group-stage qualifying matches will determine which five European teams advance directly to next summer’s tournament and who must enter the playoffs.
The team who finish top of each group will secure a World Cup spot, while sides who finish second will go into the playoffs, with the draw taking place on Thursday and the matches being played in 2026.
Tonight, a Scotland team packed with Premier League talent – including Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John McGinn (Aston Villa) and Ryan Christie (AFC Bournemouth) – will host Denmark in a winner-takes-all Group C game.
With first-choice goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who joined Nottingham Forest this summer, out injured, former Sunderland 'keeper Craig Gordon is likely to start, a month before his 43rd birthday.
Meanwhile, the Denmark line-up is likely to include Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Christian Norgaard (Arsenal) and Patrick Dorgu (Manchester United).
Group C table
| Country | Played | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 5 | 11 | 11 |
| Scotland | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| Greece | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| Belarus | 5 | -13 | 1 |
Scroll right to see the full table on mobile
It is similarly exciting in Group J, with first and second place yet to be decided.
Group leaders Belgium host Liechtenstein and remain strong favourites to finish top, which effectively leaves Wales and North Macedonia - both on 13 points - fighting for the playoff place in their head-to-head tonight in Cardiff.
Wales' latest line-up, in their 1-0 away win over Liechtenstein, featured four Leeds United players - Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Dan James - and Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams.
Six Premier League stars - Matz Sels (Nott'm Forest), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans (both Aston Villa), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) and Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) - played in Belgium's last game, while Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens was an unused substitute.
Group J table
| Country | Played | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 7 | 15 | 15 |
| N Macedonia | 7 | 9 | 13 |
| Wales | 7 | 4 | 13 |
| Kazakhstan | 8 | -4 | 8 |
| Liechtenstein | 7 | -24 | 0 |
Scroll right to see the full table on mobile
Elsewhere, the top two teams go head-to-head in Groups B (Kosovo v Switzerland), E (Spain v Turkey), and H (Austria v Bosnia & Herzegovina).
Spain and Switzerland - who have each won all five of their qualifying games without conceding a goal – have a vastly superior goal difference to their opponents and are therefore highly likely to finish top of their groups, even if they lose.
But in Group H, an Austria team that features Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso need a draw at home against second-placed Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure top spot.
Group H table
| Country | Played | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 7 | 18 | 18 |
| Bosnia & H | 7 | 10 | 16 |
| Romania | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Cyprus | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| San Marino | 7 | -31 | 0 |
Scroll right to see the full table on mobile
Rest of the world
While the majority of the remaining World Cup places will be filled by European nations, there is still plenty to play for across the globe.
The winners of the three CONCACAF groups, who will all gain automatic qualification, will be determined. A Jamaica team managed by former England, Middlesbrough and Newcastle boss Steve McClaren, and featuring Brentford defenders Ethan Pinnock and Rico Henry, are among the contenders, facing Curacao.
The two best second-placed teams from those three groups will drop into the inter-continental playoffs, which will also feature DR Congo, Bolivia, New Caledonia and either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates. Those six nations will be seeded by world ranking and then divided into two playoff paths.
There are two World Cup places available through the inter-continental playoffs, with all matches taking place in a mini-tournament in Mexico in March 2026.
The draw for that mini-tournament will take place alongside the European playoffs draw this Thursday.