CTK
yesterday 13:47
In the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the Czech footballers will compete in the five-member Group L with Montenegro, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar and the defeated team from the March quarter-final of the League of Nations between France and Croatia. It was decided by Friday’s draw at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. Both the two teams from the first basket, France and Croatia, are medalists from the last two world championships.
The European part of the qualification will begin at the end of March, and the battles in the groups will culminate in November next year. 54 countries will participate because of the war in Ukraine Russia is still excluded. The draw divided the teams into six groups of five and the same number of groups of four, the rivals traditionally play each other at home and away.
After expansion world championship out of 48 participants, Europe will send 16 to the final tournament instead of the current 13 countries. The 12 group winners will advance directly to the championship, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The playoffs will await the second places overall. This will also be played by the four best winners of the Nations League groups who fail in the classic qualification.
