The 2024 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the European zone are set to commence in March 2023, with the draw for the group stage taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, on December 9, 2022. The qualifying tournament will determine which European nations will secure a spot at the prestigious FIFA World Cup, slated to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 8 to July 3, 2024.
Fifty-four UEFA member associations will compete in the qualifiers, which will be played in a round-robin format over ten matchdays. The teams will be divided into ten groups—seven groups of five teams and three groups of six teams. Each team will play two matches against each other in their respective group, one home match and one away match. The matches will be played on specific dates allocated by UEFA, with the group stage concluding in November 2023.
The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The ten group runners-up will advance to the playoffs, where they will be joined by two additional teams from the UEFA Nations League. The playoffs will be played in a two-legged format, with the winners securing the remaining three European berths at the World Cup.
The qualifying campaign offers a thrilling opportunity for European nations to showcase their soccer prowess and strive for a place on the global stage. With several top-ranked soccer nations vying for a limited number of slots, the competition promises to be fierce and captivating. Fans can anticipate enthralling matches, unexpected results, and the emergence of new soccer stars throughout the qualifiers.
