World Cup qualifying is hurtling towards a conclusion with some of the final places ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico up for grabs over the coming days.
So far, 28 teams have booked their places in what has already been a historic campaign for three first-time qualifiers, with Jordan, Uzbekistan and the Cape Verde islands all through to the 48-team finals.
England and France are the only European teams to have qualified so far but the other 10 group winners will be gradually confirmed in the next few days as the first round of qualifying finally concludes.
Elsewhere, we have largely reached play-off time across the rest of the world; and thats before the rest of the European play-offs and inter-continental play-offs in March.
Confusingly, those games will take place after the World Cup draw is made on Friday 5 December.
Qualifying places available: 16
Teams already qualified: England, France
With England and France through, the 10 other group winners (who all receive a direct pass to the World Cup) will be confirmed over the final two rounds of qualifying. The 12 group runners-up then go through to the play-offs in March (where four more teams will qualify). This requires a group-by-group breakdown.
Germany are in the driving seat here are last months 1-0 win over Northern Ireland, who are not out of the running yet. Germany are level on points with Slovakia, with nine, going into the final two rounds of games, with Northern Ireland on six points.
Germany play first Luxembourg – bottom of the group on nil points – in what is also a handy opportunity to rack up some goal difference, while Slovakia host Northern Ireland, who need to win to keep their automatic hopes alive. Germany then finish at home against Slovakia in Leipzig, in what could be a group decider on Monday night.
Switzerland have a three-point lead over Kosovo, plus a massive advantage in goal difference, which comes amid Swedens dismal campaign so far. Switzerland host Sweden before they travel to Kosovo on the final day.
Sweden have parachuted in Graham Potter and still have a chance of reaching the play-offs. But they need to win both games, first against Switzerland and then at home to Slovenia, while requiring Kosovo to lose both of theirs.
Its squeaky bum time for the Tartan Army, as they target a first place at a mens World Cup since the glorious days of 1998. The equation for Scotland is simple: avoid defeat in Piraeus against already-eliminated Greece and beat Denmark at Hampden on the final day and a place at the World Cup will be theirs.
Yet the equation for Denmark is even simpler. They have been flying since Scotland frustrated them to a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen, winning four in a row while scoring 12 goals, giving the Danes the advantage on goal difference. As long as they dont lose against Belarus, they can go through with a draw in Glasgow.
France are through after beating second-placed Ukraine 4-0 at the Parc des Princes on Thursday. Iceland face Ukraine on Sunday in a showdown for the play-off spot.
Spain are looking pretty, with four wins, a three-point lead over Turkey and a massive advantage in goal difference. A win against Georgia, barring a collapse at home against Turkey on the final day, should be enough to qualify. It would be confirmed if Turkey slip up against Bulgaria.
Irelands stunning win over Portugal in Dublin on Thursday revives their hopes of reaching the play-offs, and the Irish will meet Hungary one point above them on Sunday in a battle for the play-off place. Portugal are almost certain to clinch top spot, even without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, given they play lowly Armenia in their final match.
The Netherlands have a three-point lead over Poland, who they face in Warsaw on Friday night in a group-decider. The Netherlands have a goal difference of +19, to Polands +6, so Robert Lewandowskis side need to win. The Netherlands are at home to Lithuania on the final day, while Poland go to Malta.
This could go down to the wire with Austria hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina on the final day. Austria have a two-point lead ahead of going to already-eliminated Cyprus, while Bosnia and Herzegovina host third-place Romania, who arent out of the running yet. Given Austrias goal difference, Bosnia and Herzegovina need to beat Romania to give themselves a chance ahead of their trip to Vienna.
Norway are set to qualify automatically after their 4-1 win over Estonia on Thursday night left them three points clear of Italy at the top of the group. The top two meet on Sunday but the Italians would have to win by nine goals to usurp Norway, whose goal difference is an extraordinary +29 from seven games, mainly thanks to Erling Haalands tally of 15 goals (the next highest scorer in Uefa qualifying has five goals). It means Italy are heading to the play-offs.
Belgium took a huge step towards qualifying with their 4-2 win over Wales in Cardiff, and hold a one-point advantage over second-placed North Macedonia with two games to come against Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein who are both already out.
Wales will surely beat Liechtenstein on Friday to move level on points with North Macedonia, who the Welsh then host on Tuesday night. That game will likely decide who goes through to the play-offs.
England are through as group winners and Albania have claimed the play-off spot ahead of Serbia, who lost 2-0 at Wembley on Thursday night.
Croatia hold a three-point advantage over second-place Czech Republic, and a four-point lead over the third-place Faroe Islands, who are looking to seal a remarkable spot in the play-offs.
Croatia, though, will be through with a home win over the Faroe Islands on Friday. As the Czech Republic host Gibraltar on the final day, Faroe Islands need to win to stand a chance of keeping their hopes alive.
Qualifying places available: Six (including three hosts USA, Canada and Mexico), plus two into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already qualified: None through qualifying (USA, Canada and Mexico automatically as co-hosts)
The three group winners, who qualify directly for the World Cup, will be decided over these upcoming two rounds of qualifying matches, as will the trio of group runners-up, with the best two of those reaching the intercontinental play-offs.
Its all to play for in Group A, as Suriname lead Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador. The four teams go into the final two rounds separated by just three points, with Suriname and Panama leading on six, Guatemala on five and El Salvador on three.
Suriname have never qualified for the World Cup and play El Salvador and Guatemala in their final two games. Panama have the same fixtures, but in reverse. Guatemala and El Salvador are also attempting to qualify for the first time.
Its a big week for Steve McClarens Jamaica. With two games to go against Trinidad and Tobago and then Curacao, Jamaica are just two wins away from qualifying for the mens World Cup for the first time since the 1998 version of the Reggae Boyz. They are one point ahead of Curacao and three ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, with Bermuda bottom of the group on zero points. If Jamaica lose away to Trinidad and Tobago, it would open the door for all three teams to qualify on the final day.
Honduras have a two-point lead over Costa Rica with two games to go. They play Nicaragua before finishing the group at home against Costa Rica, which could decide the group.
Qualifying places available: Nine, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams already qualified: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast
The four-best runners-up from the group stage are competing in the play-offs to determine who goes through to the intercontinental play-offs, ie a play-off for a play-off.
On Thursday, Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 and Cameroon were defeated by DR Congo 1-0 in the semi-finals, so Nigeria and DR Congo will meet in the play-off final on Sunday.
The winner of that then advances to Marchs intercontinental play-offs.
Qualifying places available: Eight, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams qualified: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
The United Arab Emirates are playing Iraq across two legs to determine who goes through to the intercontinental qualifiers. The first leg was drawn 1-1 on Thursday, and the second leg will be played in Basra on Tuesday.
Qualifying places available: Six, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams qualified: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay
This was completed ages ago. World Cup champions Argentina became the first side to qualify, with Ecuador finishing as surprise runners-up. Brazil went through despite finishing fifth, with Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay also advancing. Bolivia, who finished seventh, will enter the intercontinental play-offs.
Qualifying places available: One, plus one into intercontinental play-offs
Teams qualified: New Zealand
New Zealand have been the first benefactors of the expanded tournament, as they have automatically qualified for the 2026 edition via the only place available to Oceanic nations rather than having to go through the intercontinental playoffs as at previous editions. Qualifying has already ended, with New Caledonia having earned a place in the intercontinental play-offs.