ÖFB plans early: District for the 2026 World Cup in the USA!

ÖFB plans early: District for the 2026 World Cup in the USA!

USA - The preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in North America, are already in full swing. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) is planning to show the neighborhood for the international tournament. Managing Director Bernhard Neuhold emphasizes that these measures are necessary and do not result from exaggerated optimism. On June 12th, team manager Lennart Coerdt will travel to the USA to examine hotels and training facilities on the east coast as a “WM-2026 project manager”. The stay should take about two and a half weeks and aim to collect information from FIFA and clubs that participate in the club World Cup.

The travel paths to the World Cup in North America differ significantly from those of the upcoming euro 2024, which requires careful planning. Neuhold makes it clear that the bookings for the quarters are only possible after the group draw in December 2025. FIFA has already created a catalog with potential accommodations, whereby the allocation of the quarters is no longer being allocated according to the principle of "First come, first serve", but based on objective criteria and venues.

qualification for the 2026 World Cup

The qualification for the 2026 World Cup takes place from 2023 to 2026, with 210 FIFA members participating in it, with the exception of Russia, which is excluded. Eritrea has withdrawn before the qualification games started. In this tournament, a total of 48 teams will take part in the final round, which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico. For Europe, represented by the UEFA, 16 starting places are available that are awarded among 54 participants.

The UEFA qualification is structured in such a way that the teams are divided into 12 groups. These group phases begin in March 2025 and end in November 2025. The 12 group winners qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The group division will be drawn on December 13, 2024 in Zurich.

special features of qualification

The inclusion of the UEFA Nations League in the qualification process is intended to increase the chances of smaller nations to participate in the World Cup. Favorites include established soccer nations such as France, England, Spain, Germany and Portugal. Teams such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria.

The qualified teams will use their last chances as part of a playoff system from March 2026, where the best teams from North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania will compete against each other. This structure not only offers exciting duels, but also development opportunities, especially for emerging football nations and players.

The ÖFB underlines the urgency of the preparation and professional planning in order to be able to react quickly to upcoming challenges. The cost of the 2026 World Cup is expected to be higher than with the euro, whereby FIFA will cover some of the teams. However, Neuhold expects that precise amounts and inaugural fees will only be determined after the official announcement of the World Cup premiums.

Overall, the 2026 World Cup qualification remains an exciting topic in European football, which presents many teams with challenges and at the same time offers opportunities for growth and success. For more information on the World Cup qualification and the international preparations, please visit OE24, Wikipedia or football dates.