The increase of the teams in the 2026 World Cup to 48 also brought the increase of the European representative groups from 13 to 16. Thus, the relevant UEFA format will have to change and the European confederation announced the system that will bring these 16 teams to the finally of the organization in the American continent.
The process covers the group stage and the playoffs. The group stage consists of the traditional home-and-away system, with 12 groups of four or five teams being formed and matches being played from March to November 2025.
• The top 12 of each group will get a direct ticket to the final stage. .
• The 12 runners-up of the groups will participate in the playoffs to be held in March 2026 with 16 teams. In addition to the second 12 of the qualifying groups, the first of the four groups of the Nations League 2024-25 that have not been in the top two of the qualifying groups will also take part in the process.
• In the playoffs there will be single semifinals followed by single finals. The 16 teams that will enter the playoffs will be drawn in four paths, where each will include four teams.
Source: Sport Fm
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