2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup

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The 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the 21st edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the annual international men's youth football contested by the under-17 national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is to be held in Qatar in November.[1] This edition is the second edition of the annual cycle adopted by FIFA for the U-17 World Cup as well as the second to be played in a 48-team format (previously, held as a biennial 24-team tournament).[2] As part of these changes, FIFA also granted Qatar the hosting rights for the tournament for a five-year period from 2025 to 2029.[3]

Host countryQatar
Dates19 November – 13 December
Teams48 (from 6 confederations)
Quick facts كأس العالم تحت 17 سنة قطر 2026, Tournament details ...
2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup
كأس العالم تحت 17 سنة قطر 2026
Tournament details
Host countryQatar
Dates19 November – 13 December
Teams48 (from 6 confederations)
2025
2027
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Portugal were the defending champions, having won their first title in 2025, but failed to qualify for this year's edition and thus unable to defend the title. Portugal became the first title holders since England in 2019 that failed to qualify for the subsequent tournament.

Host selection

On 15 November 2023, FIFA launched a global call for expressions of interest from member associations to host the next five editions of the U17 World Cup (2025–2029) as a single consolidated package. Member associations had to express their interest no later than 4 December 2023.[4][5]

After a FIFA Council meeting held on 14 March 2024, it was announced that Qatar would host the next five editions of the U-17 World Cup (2025–2029), as part of the new annual cycle implemented by FIFA for the tournament.[6][7] This was the first time that Qatar hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the third time that the tournament was held in the Arab world.

Controversies

Although FIFA did not disclose whether there were other interested member associations, a joint bid by Indonesia and Singapore and another by Denmark were known to have been submitted.[8][9]

The Danish Football Association accused FIFA of changing the format to a five-year package without clearly announcing it. They said that they and other potential bidders were blindsided by FIFA when Qatar and Morocco—who was chosen to host the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup during the same years—ended up with the deal, saying that "FIFA moved the goalposts".[9][10]

This joined previous controversies regarding Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, such as violations of the human rights of migrant workers and FIFA's ban on the Danish football team training with pro-human rights shirts.[11] In 2024, Amnesty International criticized FIFA and Qatar for not yet addressing the "severe" human rights violations surrounding the hosting of the 2022 World Cup, claiming that they are not taking responsibility for "the vast number of migrant workers who were exploited and in many cases died to make the 2022 World Cup possible".[12][13] In 2025, Amnesty reported that "the Qatari authorities continued to fail to investigate effectively the deaths of migrant workers and to hold employers or authorities accountable, preventing any assessment of whether the deaths were work-related and depriving families of the opportunity to receive compensation."[14] Also in 2025, Human Rights Watch stated that despite scrutiny regarding migrant worker deaths building up to the tournament, Qatar "has failed to prevent, investigate, or compensate" for the deaths of thousands of them.[15]

Venues

To be confirmed.

Teams

Qualification

A total of 48 teams qualified for the final tournament. In addition to Qatar, who qualified automatically as the host nation, the other 47 teams qualified from six separate continental competitions. The slot allocation per confederation was approved by the FIFA Council meeting held on 15 May 2024:[16]

  • AFC (Asia): 9 (including the hosts Qatar)
  • CAF (Africa): 10
  • CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean): 8
  • CONMEBOL (South America): 7
  • OFC (Oceania): 3
  • UEFA (Europe): 11

Greece, Montenegro, Mozambique, Romania, Serbia, Tanzania and Vietnam will make their debut in the U-17 World Cup. Tanzania will make their first appearance in a FIFA men's tournament, while Montenegro and Mozambique will make their first appearances in any FIFA tournament.

Cuba qualified for its first U-17 World Cup since 1991, Algeria returned after their debut in 2009, while Denmark and Jamaica qualified for their first since 2011. Uruguay made a return after last qualifying in 2013. Australia and Cameroon made returns for the first time since 2019. China will make a first appearance since 2005, which is also the country's first FIFA men's football tournament appearance at any level since then. Ecuador and Spain made a return after missing out in 2025.

Both of the 2025 finalists, champions Portugal and runners-up Austria failed to qualify, so did Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Czech Republic, El Salvador, 2017 winners England, 2023 winners Germany, 2023 hosts Indonesia, Paraguay, South Africa, 2009 winners Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Zambia, having all qualified the previous time. North Korea withdrew, having appeared at the 2025 edition. Record champions Nigeria did not qualify for the third consecutive tournament.

More information Qualifying tournament, Team ...
Qualifying tournament Team Qualification date Appearance(s) Previous best performance[a]
Total First Last Streak
Host nation  Qatar 14 March 2024 9th 1985 2025 2 Fourth place (1991)
2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup  Saudi Arabia 9 May 2026 5th 1985 2025 2 Champions (1989)
 Tajikistan 4th 2007 2025 2 Round of 16 (2007)
 Australia 10 May 2026 14th 1985 2019 1 Runners-up (1999)
 Uzbekistan 5th 2011 2025 3 Quarter-finals (2011, 2023)
 China 12 May 2026 7th 1985 2005 1 Quarter-finals (1985, 2005)
 Japan 12th 1993 2025 5 Quarter-finals (1993, 2011, 2025)
 South Korea 13 May 2026 9th 1987 2025 4 Quarter-finals (1987, 2009, 2019)
 Vietnam 1st Debut
2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations  Tanzania 17 May 2026 1st Debut
 Cameroon 19 May 2026 3rd 2003 2019 1 Group stage (2003, 2019)
 Egypt 4th 1987 2025 2 Quarter-finals (1997)
 Ivory Coast 6th 1987 2025 2 Third place (1987)
 Morocco 4th 2013 2025 2 Quarter-finals (2023, 2025)
 Algeria 20 May 2026 2nd 2009 1 Group stage (2009)
 Mali 8th 1997 2025 3 Runners-up (2015)
 Senegal 4th 2019 2025 4 Round of 16 (2019, 2023)
 Mozambique 23 May 2026 1st Debut
 Uganda 2nd 2025 2 Round of 16 (2025)
2026 CONCACAF U-17 World Cup qualification  Costa Rica 10 February 2026 12th 1985 2025 2 Quarter-finals (2001, 2003, 2005, 2015)
 Haiti 4th 2007 2025 2 Group stage (2007, 2019, 2025)
 Panama 5th 2011 2025 3 Round of 16 (2011)
 United States 20th 1985 2025 6 Fourth place (1999)
 Cuba 11 February 2026 3rd 1989 1991 1 Group stage (1989, 1991)
 Honduras 7th 2007 2025 2 Quarter-finals (2013)
 Jamaica 3rd 1999 2011 1 Group stage (1999, 2011)
 Mexico 12 February 2026 17th 1985 2025 9 Champions (2005, 2011)
2026 South American U-17 Championship  Brazil 10 April 2026 20th 1985 2025 16 Champions (1997, 1999, 2003, 2019)
 Argentina 12 April 2026 17th 1985 2025 4 Third place (1991, 1995, 2003)
 Colombia 8th 1989 2025 2 Fourth place (2003, 2009)
 Ecuador 7th 1995 2023 1 Quarter-finals (1995, 2015)
 Chile 16 April 2026 7th 1993 2025 2 Third place (1993)
 Uruguay 7th 1991 2013 1 Runners-up (2011)
 Venezuela 18 April 2026 4th 2013 2025 3 Round of 16 (2023)
2025 OFC U-16 Men's Championship  New Caledonia 27 August 2025 4th 2017 2025 3 Group stage (2017, 2023, 2025)
 New Zealand 12th 1997 2025 10 Round of 16 (2009, 2011, 2015)
 Fiji 30 August 2025 2nd 2025 2 Group stage (2025)
2026 UEFA U-17 Euro qualification  Spain 21 March 2026 12th 1991 2023 1 Runners-up (1991, 2003, 2007, 2017)
 Belgium 28 March 2026 4th 2007 2025 2 Third place (2015)
 Montenegro 1st Debut
 Croatia 31 March 2026 5th 2001 2025 2 Quarter-finals (2015)
 Denmark 2nd 2011 1 Group stage (2011)
 France 10th 1987 2025 6 Champions (2001)
 Greece 1st Debut
 Italy 10th 1985 2025 2 Third place (2025)
 Republic of Ireland 2nd 2025 2 Round of 16 (2025)
 Romania 1st Debut
 Serbia 1st Debut
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Draw

Seeding

The 48 teams were drawn into twelve groups of four teams. The hosts Qatar were automatically seeded to Pot 1 and into the first position of Group A, while the remaining teams were seeded into pots based on their results in the last five FIFA U-17 World Cups (with more recent tournaments weighted more heavily, using a points-based ranking system as outlined by FIFA).[17]

More information Pot, Team ...
Pot Team Confederation 2015 2017 2019 2023 2025 Total
points
Points
(20%)
Points
(40%)
Points
(60%)
Points
(80%)
Points
(100%)
1  Qatar (H)AFCHost nation, automatically assigned to Pot 1
 BrazilCONMEBOL9182191442.8
 FranceUEFA109187838
 MaliCAF1612DNQ15929
 ArgentinaCONMEBOL0DNQ7131024.6
 ItalyUEFADNQDNQ9DNQ1924.4
 JapanAFC05761122
 SpainUEFADNQ151010DNQ20
 United StatesCONCACAF19161019.2
 MexicoCONCACAF132114417.2
 SenegalCAFDNQDNQ67716.2
 South KoreaAFC7DNQ90713.8
2  MoroccoCAFDNQDNQDNQ7712.6
 UzbekistanAFCDNQDNQDNQ7712.6
 VenezuelaCONMEBOLDNQDNQDNQ4710.2
 CroatiaUEFA8DNQDNQDNQ89.6
 EcuadorCONMEBOL9DNQ66DNQ9.4
 BelgiumUEFA13DNQDNQDNQ68.6
 Republic of IrelandUEFADNQDNQDNQDNQ88
 ColombiaCONMEBOLDNQ6DNQDNQ57.4
 ChileCONMEBOL413DNQ47
 EgyptCAFDNQDNQDNQDNQ44
 AustraliaAFC4DNQ4DNQDNQ3.2
 Saudi ArabiaAFCDNQDNQDNQDNQ33
3  New ZealandOFC413003
 Costa RicaCONCACAF51DNQDNQ12.4
 TajikistanAFCDNQDNQ3DNQ01.8
 PanamaCONCACAFDNQDNQDNQ201.6
 New CaledoniaOFCDNQ1DNQ011.4
 HondurasCONCACAF03DNQDNQ01.2
 HaitiCONCACAFDNQDNQ0DNQ00
 Ivory CoastCAFDNQDNQDNQDNQ00
 FijiOFCDNQDNQDNQDNQ00
 CameroonCAFDNQDNQ0DNQDNQ0
 DenmarkUEFADNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 MontenegroUEFADNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
4  SerbiaUEFADNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 RomaniaUEFADNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 GreeceUEFADNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 UruguayCONMEBOLDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 TanzaniaCAFDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 AlgeriaCAFDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 VietnamAFCDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 ChinaAFCDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 JamaicaCONCACAFDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 CubaCONCACAFDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 Mozambique[b]CAFDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
 Uganda[b]CAFDNQDNQDNQDNQ88
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Draw results

More information Pos, Team ...
Group A
PosTeam
A1 Qatar (H)
A2 Panama
A3 Egypt
A4 Greece
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Group C
PosTeam
C1 Argentina
C2 Australia
C3 Uganda[b]
C4 Denmark
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Group D
PosTeam
D1 France
D2 Haiti
D3 Saudi Arabia
D4 Uruguay
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Group E
PosTeam
E1 Italy
E2 Jamaica
E3 Ivory Coast
E4 Uzbekistan
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Group F
PosTeam
F1 Senegal
F2 Croatia
F3 Cuba
F4 Tajikistan
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Group G
PosTeam
G1 Mali
G2 New Zealand
G3 Belgium
G4 Vietnam
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Group H
PosTeam
H1 Spain
H2 China
H3 Fiji
H4 Morocco
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Group J
PosTeam
J1 United States
J2 Montenegro
J3 Chile
J4 Algeria
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Group K
PosTeam
K1 Mexico
K2 Romania
K3 Cameroon
K4 Venezuela
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More information Pos, Team ...
Group L
PosTeam
L1 Japan
L2 Colombia
L3 Serbia
L4 Honduras
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Draw

The draw took place on 21 May 2026 in Zurich, Switzerland.[18]

Group stage

Tiebreakers

More information Tie-breaking criteria for group play ...
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Group A

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Qatar (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Panama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Egypt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 19 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
More information Qatar, v ...
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More information Egypt, v ...
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More information Qatar, v ...
Qatar v Egypt
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More information Greece, v ...
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Group B

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Mozambique 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  New Caledonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Ecuador 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 19 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information South Korea, v ...
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More information New Caledonia, v ...
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More information Ecuador, v ...
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Group C

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Uganda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 19 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Argentina, v ...
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More information Uganda, v ...
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More information Denmark, v ...
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Group D

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Haiti 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Uruguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 19 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information France, v ...
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More information Saudi Arabia, v ...
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Group E

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Jamaica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Ivory Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Uzbekistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 20 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Italy, v ...
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More information Ivory Coast, v ...
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Group F

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Senegal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Cuba 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 20 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Senegal, v ...
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More information Cuba, v ...
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More information Senegal, v ...
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More information Tajikistan, v ...
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Group G

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Mali 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Vietnam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 20 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Mali, v ...
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More information Belgium, v ...
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Group H

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Fiji 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Morocco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 20 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Spain, v ...
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Group I

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Republic of Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Tanzania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Costa Rica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 21 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Brazil, v ...
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Group J

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Montenegro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Chile 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Algeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 21 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information United States, v ...
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Group K

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Romania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 21 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
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Group L

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2  Colombia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Serbia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage
4  Honduras 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 21 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Japan, v ...
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More information Serbia, v ...
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Ranking of third-placed teams

More information Tie-breaking criteria for qualified teams ...
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More information Pos, Grp ...
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A 3rd place Group A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2 B 3rd place Group B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C 3rd place Group C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D 3rd place Group D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E 3rd place Group E 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F 3rd place Group F 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 G 3rd place Group G 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 H 3rd place Group H 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 I 3rd place Group I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 J 3rd place Group J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 K 3rd place Group K 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 L 3rd place Group L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 19 November 2026. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualified teams tiebreakers

See also

Notes

  1. Bold text indicates they hosted that edition.
  2. The winners of the CAF playoffs were not known at the time of the draw.

References

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