Portugal, France and 16 other national teams that could clinch a World Cup 2026 spot in October

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the horizon, the qualifying campaigns across every confederation are approaching their decisive stages. Nearly 20 national teams could lock in their ticket to next summer’s tournament with strong results in the October international break — including France and Portugal.

UEFA’s qualifiers are the shortest of any confederation. In just 6 or 8 matches, Europe’s top teams can punch their ticket to the World Cup — and that’s exactly what could happen this month. While not in the first Matchday of October, by next week some of the world’s biggest stars may already be celebrating qualification.

If Portugal defeat the Republic of Ireland and Hungary, along with favorable results in the other Group F matches, Cristiano Ronaldo will officially be headed to the 2026 World Cup — even with two November games still remaining. Kylian Mbappe’s France are in a similar position: they must beat Azerbaijan and Iceland, and hope for help elsewhere in the group.

European giants like England and Spain face the same opportunity. The Three Lions, however, have a small difference: they’ll be off this week — playing a friendly against Wales — so their only qualifier is against Latvia on Tuesday, October 14. If they win that and Serbia drop points, they could clinch early.

Harry Kane’s England could secure their spot in the World Cup 2026 next week.

Other UEFA national teams that could qualify for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada include Croatia, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Norway. The last two represent special cases: Slovakia have only appeared in one World Cup — South Africa 2010 — and now have a realistic chance to return, although they are competing against Germany in Group A. Norway, meanwhile, have played in three World Cups, but not since France 1998. Now, led by Erling Haaland, they’re on the verge of returning after nearly three decades.

So far, just two African nations have secured a place at the 2026 World Cup: Morocco and Tunisia. But up to six more teams could join them during the October international break. The teams with the clearest path are Algeria, Cape Verde, and Egypt — each needing just one more win.