The race is on for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the European qualifiers have officially kicked off, paving the way for 16 European nations to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This World Cup will see an expanded format featuring 48 teams, allowing more nations to compete for glory on the global stage.
The qualification process consists of 12 groups, each featuring a mix of traditional powerhouses and underdogs. The draw for these groups has already set the stage for exciting matchups throughout the qualification phase, which commenced this past weekend.
Group A consists of Germany, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg. Group B features Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, and Kosovo. In Group C, Denmark will compete against Greece, Scotland, and Belarus. The former World Cup champions France lead Group D, alongside Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Group E includes Spain, Turkey, Georgia, and Bulgaria.
Portugal, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, and Armenia make up Group F, while Group G consists of the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, and Malta. Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, and San Marino will battle it out in Group H. In Group I, Italy faces off against Norway, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova, while Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein are in Group J. Group K is led by England, facing Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra, while Group L includes Croatia, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, the Faroe Islands, and Gibraltar.
Teams that finish at the top of their respective groups will automatically qualify for the tournament, with four additional spots available for the second-placed teams and nations ranked well in the UEFA Nations League. The competition to qualify will undoubtedly be fierce.
As these groups take shape, fans have much to look forward to. One particular match on the horizon is between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus, scheduled for March 21, 2025. Bosnia-Herzegovina enters the match with 3 points after a narrow 1-0 victory against Romania, remaining undefeated over the last 180 minutes, including a drawn encounter against the Netherlands. They are confident and eager to continue their winning streak, bolstered by a strong performance last weekend.
On the other hand, Cyprus aims to rise to the challenge. After defeating one of the lower-ranked teams, Saint-Marin, they will face a significantly tougher match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. As stated by a betting platform, the odds favor Bosnia-Herzegovina with a value of 1.42 for a victory, while a draw stands at 4.5, and a win for Cyprus is at 7.6.
Betting algorithms estimate that Bosnia-Herzegovina holds a 42.06% chance of victory, while Cyprus’s prospects are pegged at 46.24% for a victory. With Cyprus having sustained two losses in their previous away games, their determination to perform well in this match is crucial.
As the qualification phase continues, fans are eager to watch these teams compete and see which nations will secure their place in the World Cup. The thrilling matches ahead promise to deliver excitement and drama as countries across Europe fight for a chance to be part of the largest football spectacle in the world.
As it stands, the group phase is set to wrap up by November 2025, with play-offs to follow in March 2026. Excitement is palpable among fans and players alike, as they anticipate the challenge of rising to the occasion and competing on the world stage.
