Geneva (AP) – European soccer is currently focused Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup Recent champions, France, Germany and Spain, have launched six-game, 11-week sprints among the nations, reaching tournaments played across North America.
The European qualifying program returned on Thursday in a six-day game involving 54 teams. Of those, 24 will kick the first ball on their intended path to play on the biggest stage of football in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11th.
Italy has launched a campaign – Shaking – Resuming quest to avoid the third straight in June Not qualified They are already behind group leader Norway.
England will open in March and will add to three consecutive wins without a goal to concede to manager Thomas Touchel.
Some people starting the qualifying program include: Thrilling Nations League Match March and June.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup winner, will begin in Bulgaria on Thursday, when the 2014 champion Germany begins in Slovakia.
France, the 2018 title winner, will begin on Friday against Ukraine in Lesbuls’ first game. An epic final against Argentina December 2022.
Ukraine will hold its game at Poland’s neutral Poland Lokla due to concerns about security at home during Russian military invasions. That’s what the Russian team did. Prohibited by UEFA and FIFA From all international conferences in February 2022, when the war began.
How to qualify
Europe has 16 entries in the first 48 men’s World Cup, three more than the 32-team format in 2022.
The 12 first-place teams, whose qualifying group will finish in November, will proceed directly to the tournament.
The 12 runner-ups took part in the scheduled playoffs in March, with four winners from the Nations League group who played last year. Those extra teams can Surprisingly, we include San Marino210th and the last The men’s national team ranked in FIFA.
The 16 European playoff teams will be seeded into four knockout brackets of four teams each. They will hold the single game semi-finals and finals on March 26th and 31st, with four World Cup slots remaining.
Smallest group since 1989
Additional World Cup entries, where FIFA and Nations League knockout stages were expanded by UEFA, changed the qualifying formula.
Europe has just four teams’ first World Cup qualifying group, after it ended a few days after the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989 and recreated the continent.
The high-ranking country, which once had to play in groups of five or six teams for 15 months, has a condensed program that plays two games for the third consecutive month. Injuries may remove key players throughout the qualifying program. Germany doesn’t have it Jamal MusiaraHe suffered a serious leg injury playing for Bayern Munich at the Club World Cup in July.
The format will be changed again next year. After the 2026 World Cup, FIFA Schedule The men’s national team game will be split into four game blocks over the weekends in September and October.
The toughest group
International League Quarter in March Türkiye and Georgiatwo breakout successes at Euro 2024.
Georgia, along with starwinger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, was the most dangerous team of options to be seeded third in the draw last December. Georgia will be holding Türkiye on Thursday and will play in Spain on October 11th.
Perhaps the most difficult to predict is a group of four teams: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia and Kosovo.
Switzerland was Impressive Quarterfinalist Euro 2024 still have to face some of Europe’s most expensive forwards – Slovenia’s Benjamin šeškonow at Arsenal and Swedish offensive line Alexander Isaac, Viktor Gyökeres and Anthony Elanga This season, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle were each collectively referred to for over $300 million.
A talented Kosovo team We will actively recruit from the immigrant population In Switzerland, the Swiss team is the best captain ever Granite Zakahas family connections with Kosovo.
Norway leads Italy and Israel
One group is now making sure to make news led by Norway before Israel and Italy.
Norway has not competed in the Men’s World Cup before the birth of 25-year-old Erling Haaland. The team is on track after star forwards scored on each of their four straight wins since starting in March.
Norway will have no fixtures in the five-team group on Friday and will host its latest Moldova next Tuesday.
Italy has not played the World Cup tournament game since June 2014, the infamous. After that, Giorgio Ciellini Uruguay’s Luis Suarez bitten With a 1-0 loss that sent four championship homes from Brazil’s group stage.
Italy will host Estonia on Friday, facing Israel in Neutral Hungary at Debresen three days ago.
It’s owned by an Israeli team Hosting home games is not permitted Since the attack by Hamas in October 2023, it has been involved in international competition for security reasons.
Norway will host Israel in Oslo on October 11th I pledged last month Donate benefits from ticket sales in the game to humanitarian work in Gaza.
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