Nine European Nations Still in the Race: Europe’s Final World Cup Qualifiers Set the Stage for a Nail-Biting Finish
16 November 2025
How England, France and Croatia Qualified
England became the first European side to lock in a spot with two games left thanks to a dominant 5-0 victory over Latvia last October, followed by a 2-0 win against Serbia. They sit atop their group with 21 points, well ahead of Albania, who trail by seven points, as the final matchday approaches in what promises to be a celebratory finish for the Three Lions.
France joined them with a commanding win over Ukraine, lifting their tally to 13 points and placing them on the cusp of the finals with a healthy lead in Group 4. The French are set to close their campaign against Azerbaijan on the last matchday, aiming to maintain control of their group and secure direct qualification.
Croatia sealed their passage to the World Cup by defeating the Faroe Islands 3-1, lifting their total to 19 points and pushing them six clear of the Czech Republic with one round remaining. Luka Modrić and company head into their final game versus Montenegro confident in their position and ready to celebrate their ticket if fate cooperates.
With England, France and Croatia already in, Europe is playing out as a chess match of group leaders and playoff hopefuls, as 16 teams venture into a March playoff tournament for four additional Europe berths.
In this expanded format that features 48 teams for the first time at the global finals, Europe will contribute 16 nations to the World Cup field, with winners of the 12 groups earning direct tickets and second-placed sides heading to the playoffs.
The European playoff field will be whittled down to four nations after a 16-team bracket in March, with the draw scheduled next Thursday at FIFA’s headquarters in Switzerland.
