
Since FIFA decided to increase the number of teams participating in the final tournament to 48, the question remains.How many qualifying rounds are there for the World Cup?It has become the focus of attention for football fans worldwide. The expansion in scale not only provides opportunities for mid-level teams but also makes the qualifying routes across continents more complex and dramatic than ever before.
To fully grasp these changes, it’s essential to stay updated with reliable sources such as link xem trực tiếp bóng đá This will help you not miss any important developments in the journey to qualify for the North American Open in 2026.
How many qualifying rounds are there for the World Cup?
How many qualifying rounds are there for the World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious tournament on the planet, bringing together the strongest national teams from across the continents. Every four years, the World Cup becomes the focal point of the football world, watched by billions of people. Therefore, many people wonder how many qualifying rounds there are for the World Cup and what the current tournament format is.
In reality, World Cup qualifiers don’t follow a fixed number of rounds that are the same for all regions. The number of qualifying rounds depends on each continental confederation, such as Asia, Europe, South America, Africa, North and Central America, and Oceania. Each region has its own way of organizing the tournament to select the best teams to qualify for the finals.

The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious tournament on the planet.
Typically, World Cup qualifiers last for two to three years before the tournament officially begins. Teams must compete through several stages, from preliminary rounds and group stages to the final qualifying rounds or intercontinental play-offs. This is a journey just as exciting as the final tournament, and currently..highlight bóng đá tối qua This is currently the website providing live streaming links for matches at the biggest sporting event on the planet.
The latest World Cup qualifying format.
How many qualifying rounds are there for the World Cup?Starting with the FIFA World Cup 2026, the number of teams participating in the finals will be increased from 32 to…48 teamsThis led to a major change in the qualifying system, with many continents gaining additional participation slots.
Increasing the number of teams gives more countries a chance to participate, while also making the qualifying rounds more competitive. Strong regions like Europe and South America maintain their high quality, while Asia and Africa have more opportunities to spring surprises.
Each continental football federation will allocate its own number of slots based on FIFA’s decision.
Asian regional qualifiers
The AFC is a region with a large number of national teams, so the qualifying format usually consists of multiple stages. For the 2026 World Cup, Asia has…8.5 servings, more than before.
Typically, this area has about5 main qualifying roundsThe system includes preliminary rounds, second round, third round, fourth round, and intercontinental play-offs. Lower-ranked teams play early, while stronger teams like Japan, South Korea, and Iran usually advance to the later rounds. The Vietnamese national team also participates in this system and always receives great attention from viewers watching through leading online football platforms such as…90P TV.

Asia has 8.5 slots at the 2026 World Cup.
European regional qualifiers
UEFA is home to some of the world’s strongest teams, so the competition is incredibly fierce. Europe is usually allocated the largest number of qualifying spots.
Common formats includegroup stage and play-offThe teams are divided into groups and compete in a double round-robin format. The top teams in each group qualify directly, while the lower-ranked teams compete through the play-offs.
The races between England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, or Portugal always generate a huge amount of interest before each World Cup.
South American Regional Qualifiers
CONMEBOL has fewer teams, so the format is simpler but extremely demanding. Only 10 teams participate, and all compete in a double round-robin format.
Each team will play 18 matches, with points awarded for overall ranking. The top teams qualify directly, while the next best teams may participate in the intercontinental play-offs.
Despite having fewer teams, this is considered the most difficult qualifying round because it includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile. Fans on90 FeetAlways looking forward to major battles in this region.
African regional qualifiers
CAF has a very large number of teams, so the qualifying rounds are usually divided into several stages. Teams will compete from the preliminary rounds, then move on to the group stage.
The teams that top their groups or have the best records will advance to the final qualifying round to compete for a place in the World Cup. Africa has always been a region full of surprises, with strong representatives such as Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, and Cameroon.

The African regional qualifiers are divided into several stages.
North Central American Regional Qualifiers
CONCACAF boasts prominent national teams such as the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The qualifying format typically consists of multiple stages, from preliminary rounds to the final group stage. With the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting the 2026 World Cup, the remaining spots will be contested by Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, and several other teams.
Oceania Regional Qualifiers
OFC is the region with the fewest national teams. In the past, the strongest team often had to play in intercontinental play-offs to have a chance to qualify for the World Cup.
However, starting with the 2026 World Cup, Oceania has secured its first-ever direct qualification spot. This opens up significant opportunities for New Zealand and other teams in the region. This change provides further impetus for the development of football in Oceania.
Conclude
With the information that90Phut TVHopefully, the information shared above has helped readers understand accurately.How many qualifying rounds are there for the World Cup?Depending on the continental confederation, the number of qualifying rounds can range from 2 to 5 different stages before determining the teams that advance to the finals. With the new format of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the opportunities for many teams have widened. This promises to deliver the most exciting and diverse World Cup in the history of world football.