Which European Teams Have Qualified for the World Cup?

1. Which teams have already qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup?

Seven teams have directly qualified to the United States, Mexico, and Canada as group champions in the European zone qualifying round as of Tuesday (18/11/2025) WIB.

The seven teams are Croatia (Group L champion), England (Group K champion), France (Group D champion), Germany (Group A champion), the Netherlands (Group G champion), Norway (Group I champion), and Portugal (Group F champion).

The following is a record of the achievements of the seven countries that have qualified for the World Cup.

-Croatia (second place in the 1998 World Cup and third place in 2022)

-England (champions 1966, quarter-finals 2022)

-France (champion 1998 and 2018, second place 2022)

-Germany (champion 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)

-Netherlands (second place 1974, 1978, 2010)

-Norway (round of 16 1938 and 1998)

-Portugal (third place 1966)

2. How did the Netherlands and Germany qualify directly?

The Netherlands qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup after defeating Lithuania with a convincing score of 4-0 in the final match of Group G at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, on Tuesday (18/11/2025 WIB). The "Oranje" team accumulated 20 points from eight matches. The Netherlands joins England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, and Germany, who had already qualified directly earlier.

The Netherlands successfully completed eight matches in the qualifying round without ever losing. This achievement has made the midfield the focal point of football play as well as a source of goals. The strength of the midfield must be maximally utilized.

Under the guidance of Coach Ronald Koeman, the Oranje have rediscovered their identity through the 4-3-3 tactic, which is considered outdated. Koeman does not rely on a single striker like Memphis Depay, but instead trusts the creativity of the midfielders to devise an attacking scheme that is difficult for opposing players to anticipate.

Tijjani Reijnders and Xavi Simons demonstrated their ability to penetrate the penalty area and assist in finishing. Frenkie de Jong's role is irreplaceable in the number six position. The contributions of young players, such as Jerdy Schouten, Luciano Valente, Sem Steijn, and Kenneth Taylor, are evidence of the abundant supply of Dutch midfielders.

Meanwhile, Germany also qualified directly after defeating Slovakia, 6-0, at the Red Bull Arena Stadium in Leipzig, Tuesday (18/11/2025) early morning WIB. "Der Panzer" qualified dramatically after being defeated by Slovakia 0-2 in the opening match of Group A.

Germany actually only needed a draw to qualify as group champions, but they chose to play all out as a signal of their readiness to compete at a higher level. Young players such as Nick Woltemade and Assan Ouedrago were entrusted by Coach Julian Nagelsmann. This indicates a smooth transition to younger players in the German national team.

3. Why did Norway qualify directly and Italy not?

Norway's emphatic victory over Italy at the San Siro in Milan cemented Norway's status as a force to be reckoned with at the 2026 World Cup. The 4-1 victory meant Italy, in desperate need of a major victory, had to battle it out again in the playoffs.

The match, which opened with a quick goal from Francesco Pio Esposito, turned into a disaster for Italy after halftime. Italy lost its determination, while Norway grew increasingly bold. Norway is not merely a team to be taken lightly, but rather a squad that deserves to be taken seriously.

Norway's perfection is evident from eight consecutive victories and a record of 37 goals, their highest achievement in history. The trio of players Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth, and Thelo Aasgaard has become a goal-scoring machine with a total of 26 goals. An average record of 4.63 goals per match makes them the sharpest team in the history of European zone qualifications. Norway's coach Stale Solbakken described this result as one of the best moments in the team's journey.

Meanwhile, Italy appears to be repeating the tragedies of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, failing in the same phase. Despite remaining top seeds in the playoff draw, Italy must overcome the immense mental pressure. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso stated that there are issues of consistency and courage when the opponent is ahead.

4. Will Ronaldo appear in the 2026 World Cup?

Portugal has already secured a ticket to the 2026 World Cup. The next question is, will Cristiano Ronaldo appear in what could be his last World Cup?

Portugal won 9-1 against Armenia in the final qualifying match at the Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal, on Sunday (16/11/2025) WIB. This victory was achieved without Ronaldo, who was unable to play due to a red card. In Ronaldo's absence, Portugal performed impressively and became the champion of Group F. Portugal's performance did not falter with Ronaldo's absence. Meanwhile, the last time Ronaldo played, Portugal lost 0-2 to Ireland.

The player nicknamed "CR7" has a big ego that will disrupt the team if it cannot be controlled. Portugal must learn from the experience at the 2022 World Cup. At that time, it seemed as though Portugal had only one player, namely Ronaldo. Portugal would also be devastated if Ronaldo became emotional, as he did when receiving a red card.

Ronaldo's maturity, who will turn 41 in 2026, will be crucial. He must be willing to take on various roles on the field, such as assisting in defense and not just waiting for passes forward.