Where to watch CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers for Free?

The North, Central American and Caribbean section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will serve as the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, for national teams that are members of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Three direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off slots in the final tournament were available for CONCACAF teams.

CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers

On 9 May 2017, the FIFA Council approved the allocation of slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which included six direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off spots for the CONCACAF region. Nonetheless, in a change of format from prior World Cups, there would no longer be a dedicated host country slot, as the slots of automatically qualifying host nations would now come from the allocation of their confederation.

If the tournament were to be co-hosted, the FIFA Council would determine which host nations would qualify automatically. On 13 June 2018, three members of CONCACAF—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—were chosen as hosts for the 2026 World Cup by the 68th FIFA Congress.

CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers draw

On 14 February 2023, the FIFA Council granted automatic berths for all three host countries, leaving three direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off slots to be filled through CONCACAF qualification. On 28 February, CONCACAF revealed the qualifying format for the 2026 World Cup qualification.

First round: Four CONCACAF teams, ranked 29 to 32 based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, were split into two matchups, played on a two-legged home-and-away basis. The two victors advanced to the second round.

Second round: Thirty teams, the two winners from the first round and CONCACAF teams ranked 1 to 28 based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, were divided into six groups of five teams. They will compete in single round-robin matches (two home and two away), with group winners and runners-up qualifying for the third round.

Third round: The twelve teams progressing from the second round will be placed into three groups of four teams. They will engage in double round-robin home-and-away matches, with the three group winners qualifying for the World Cup. The two highest-ranked runners-up will move on to the inter-confederation play-offs.

As Canada, Mexico, and the United States were granted automatic berths as co-hosts, they did not participate in qualifying. The other 32 FIFA-affiliated national teams from CONCACAF entered the qualification process. Based on the FIFA rankings of December 2023, the top 28 teams received a bye to the second round, while the lowest four teams participated in the first round.

Intercontinental playoffs

The top two runners-up from the third round will join one team each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams competing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will face the two highest-ranked teams in another series of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Favorites of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers

Jamaica are likely the favorites to advance from this qualifying, considering they have players such as Leon Bailey and Mason Holgate.

Also Read: Where To Watch FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for Free?

Key Fixtures in CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers

• Dominica v British Virgin Islands
• Montserrat v Belize
• Bermuda v Cayman Islands
• Grenada v Bahamas
• Barbados v Aruba

Where to watch CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in several countries?

Country	Free Viewing Platform
United Kingdom	FIFA+
United States	FIFA+
Mexico	FIFA+
Canada	FIFA+
Jamaica	FIFA+
Bahamas	FIFA+
Cuba	FIFA+
Honduras	FIFA+
India	FIFA+
British Virgin Islands	FIFA+
Dominica	FIFA+
Dominican Republic	FIFA+
Panama	FIFA+
Guyana	FIFA+
Montserrat	FIFA+
Suriname	FIFA+
Puerto Rico	FIFA+
Haiti	FIFA+
St Lucia	FIFA+
Barbados	FIFA+
Aruba	FIFA+
Grenada	FIFA+
Trinidad and Tobago	FIFA+
Nicaragua	FIFA+
El Salvador	FIFA+