Which big European teams could find trouble in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying?

[@riobabic8960]

They always say Croatia is older. They are not only Modric is old. Most of the team is super young.

[@markykrajky13]

Just because we have modric on our team doesn’t mean we are an old team. Several of our starters on our team are under 25.

[@avel12353]

Budimir, Modric, Perisic, Kramaric, Pasalic, Petkovic, Kovacic... all 30+ yes, Croatia is old and in big decline. Everyone see that

[@markykrajky13]

@ How about Gvardiol, majer, Sosa, the both Sučićs, Matanović, Baturina, Stanišić, Šutalo etc ?

[@markykrajky13]

@ half of those players you mentioned aren’t even starters on the team.

[@BarDownAndIn]

England definitely does not have an easy group. Away to Serbia and Albania is not easy

[@Jos-z5v]

They’ll both get player suspensions, England will play weakened versions and win, draw to one away at least. We have the best tournament format manager in the world, it’s pretty straight forward. That’s coming from someone who doesn’t usually have much faith.

[@BarDownAndIn]

@@Jos-z5v youre certainly heavy favorites, but look at your results against Slovakia and Slovenia at the Euros. I would say both Albania and Serbia are at the same level if not above Slovakia/Slovenia, especially at home.

[@joeelliott4820]

England gas a terrible manger too I do not have hope

[@karlhowsham200]

england may only draw in serbia but that will be the only points they drop

[@greengrass811]

I mean they are hardly Croatia. And saying that serbia and albania are not easy is like saying scotland are not easy . They are no better than scotland . England could have got miuch harder teams like sweden, norway , austria etc . Also people are forgetting for the first time since glenn hoddle . England actually have a coach who really understands the game and knows what he is doing . Throw in ermerging talent like brainthwaithe , hall, livramento , colwill, wharton ,gittens, delap etc . I could name about thirty more. Never in the history of football have england had so much talent . They must have about ten no 10;s aand 10 top class wingers that would play in nearly all the top teams in world football

[@tonybaihao4178]

Europe cannot be granted more than 16 spots (1/4 of the total amount of teams) simply to leave the rest to the other continents. Yes South America have 60%-70% of their teams going to the World Cup, but they've just been granted 1 extra spot compared to the 32-team format, which is fine. Africa previously had just 5 spots for the World Cup, and they now have 9. Considering Africa consists of 54 national teams, which is the same number as Europe, Europe should be grateful to proportionally have almost 2 times more teams at the World Cup. Finally, Oceania rarely has any representative at the World Cup in the previous format. Now with 48 teams, they have a guaranteed spot and maybe even an extra one. Given they've hardly ever been at the World Cup, this already serves some form of justice to Oceania.

[@Me-ui1zy]

South America went from 4 berths to 6 berths. Both with a playoff spot. So, no.

[@sebasiegrist9341]

​@@Me-ui1zystill all 10 are in a way competitive, there's no Luxemburg or San Marino. Even a fallen from grace Chile would make a decent job.

[@jimmyyue238]

Asia having too many teams in the expanded format (8 compared to 6 normally)

[@shanglaithotsem5507]

​​@@jimmyyue238Asia Have Only 4 teams in previous Format. ..Europea 16 with weak teams😂😂😂😂

[@sebasiegrist9341]

@@jimmyyue238 yes, we'll see how they do in the WC. Probably some first timers even.

[@zackq8865]

As an Italian fan I dont like having Slovakia one bit as Italy always seem to struggle against these eastern european balkan countries so I really hope that they lose the match against Gernany to get put into the much easier group imo with Norway, Israel, Estonia and Moldova.

[@yoshiwoollyworld]

@@zackq8865 wouldn’t they fail to qualify again in either group?

[@ezraezra2928]

Did Italy lose to Slovakia in the 2010 World Cup? That should be considered a main factor.

[@yoshiwoollyworld]

@ yes

[@yoshiwoollyworld]

@@zackq8865 wouldn’t norway be eastern european as well if sweden is?

[@zackq8865]

​@ezraezra2928 yes they did

[@jimmyyue238]

Germany and Italy is going to try to win the quarterfinals to have a better position in qualifying for world cup.

[@mouna5252elle]

*Are

[@FernandoCruz-np9ev]

Germany Will not Qualify

[@vinces1590]

Germany is pretty good now

[@zackq8865]

How is being in a group with Slovakia (who they lost against in the 2010 wc and Northern Ireland who they tied against in the last world cup qualifying cycle) a better scenario?

[@jimmyyue238]

The loser will be in the group which has Norway and Haaland

[@Whoami691]

It will be tuchels first test as england manager. A clean sweep would show everyone he can do the job.

[@andrejmiskatovic8085]

I kinda lowkey hope Croatia to go to group L and have easy way to come to World Cup

[@JoelER78]

no

[@andrejmiskatovic8085]

@JoelER78 Yes 😂

[@FernandoCruz-np9ev]

Not a Chance! Czechia Could Upset Them! Croatia will get the World Cup Curse just like The Netherlands!

[@andrejmiskatovic8085]

@@FernandoCruz-np9ev Are you sure buddy?

[@andrewlee2736]

With the UEFA region and the nations within that region,there will be some major ones that could miss out.

[@albertlucero647]

IM A SPANISH AMERICAN AND I WILL ALWAYS ROOT FOR SPAIN 🇪🇸. VAMOS MI ESPANA. AMOR .

[@lindafedchuk5147]

Croatia getting older? Youngest team they had in years!!

[@stipe3124]

It is a trope during last few years, from 2018 team there are only two players left and they are Modrić and Perišić and that is it

[@elpidionastro8336]

Italy will qualify and be strong..happened to France back in 90 and 94.

[@honeyqueen1091]

Hopefully you'll be right 🙌🏻 FORZA AZZURRI 🇮🇹💪🏻

[@HardCandy-d9q]

Forza Italia 🇮🇹

[@HardCandy-d9q]

Whenever they write us off we come back strong we have never been favourite or one of the favourites except for Italia 90 and we all know how that went every 12 years we used to make a final now it’s overdue even though we won the Euros..

[@Whoami691]

​@@HardCandy-d9qyou've been written off for 4 years. Where were you in 2022?

[@HardCandy-d9q]

@@Whoami691 that’s how we are it was a disgrace not making 2022 we’re still hurting but with the pain also comes the good at least I can say I watched 1 World Cup and 1 euro win which is much better than most can say..

[@ezraezra2928]

Extremely impossible. More World Cup spots might eliminate the possibility of big teams for missing out the tournament, like what happened to Italy and Brazil.

[@sprixies7320]

Yet UEFA will only have 3 more berths from the actual 13

[@ezraezra2928]

@sprixies7320 And if Italy only finished 2nd in the qualifier group, they still had to play in the playoffs. Only group winners can qualify for the World Cup without any obstacles.

[@sprixies7320]

@ezraezra2928 I know.

[@almango873]

Not sure when Brazil last failed to qualify

[@scoobusmaximusiii]

@@almango873 They're the only national team to play at every single FIFA World Cup in case you didn't know.

[@karlhowsham200]

not only should europe get less places the finals should have no more than 24 places

[@u2myworld]

Italy struggled because we were placed in a group with another top 10 team. Belgium has no business to have their FIFA ranking.

[@Jos-z5v]

Straight forward for England, they have two teams that will get a number of player suspensions usually their key players. Serbia have already seen players sent off in nations league against Spain and Denmark, they aren’t rivals. England now also have the best tournament format manager in the world, it’s pretty straight forward. That’s coming from someone who doesn’t usually have much faith.

[@joeelliott4820]

😂🤣😂😂🤣🤣 England is a average team with a terrible manger it will not be easy

[@yoshiwoollyworld]

@@joeelliott4820Southgate isn’t managing them now

[@joeelliott4820]

@ I know we got some just as bad

[@Whoami691]

​​@@joeelliott4820and yet with an average team and a terrible manager they made 2 finals and a semi in the last 4 tournaments. Swivel on it Almost like you're talking from your crack..

[@scoobusmaximusiii]

@@joeelliott4820 Tuchel is light years better than Southgate.

[@Siwashable]

the 2018 miss was largely due to the worst coach in Italy's history... I don't get what happened in 2022 - that one is a mystery.. some mistake by Mancini but still, they lost to N. Macedonia at home... They will qualify now. They backline is the strongest it's been in a least a generation.. and it's deep. The midfield is very good and deep. And they seem to have finally addressed the scoring problems.

[@roccociccone597]

Ventura was not the best that's true... 2022 was squarely on Mancini. He stuck with players from the Euros which were out of shape and barely survived the matches... Had he picked the players that were actually fit during that period we would've easily qualified. This time around we've got a solid squad, a solid coach and we're in a building phase. I think we'll make it again...

[@langshenyou1750]

No. There are more qualifying spots. Impossible.

[@Honken55]

3 more. But still only 1 team from each group qualify. We know what happens with Italy in playoff... 😜

[@TasteyBannas]

FIRST. AND IM FROM CANANDA TORONTO GO CANADA 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@paymans1153]

Hello Patel! 😜🤣

[@stipe3124]

Croatia literaly has now only two players from 2018 team how are we getting older? Squad size: 26 Average age: 27.7 Foreigners: 22 84.6 % Confederation: UEFA FIFA World Ranking: Pos 13

[@basquat76]

It's so unfair that the teams doesn't start on the same terms. Oh no these are the good teams so they shouldn't play each other so everyone loses the luck of the draw. We all get one of the big teams. Just more rich people/countries screwing the smaller ones over.

[@roccociccone597]

it's perfectly fair. If you're a tier 3 team it makes no sense to play against other tier 3 teams. Same goes for top tier teams like Germany, Italy and France. You're just salty your nation won't qualify with this system.

[@basquat76]

@@roccociccone597 And you are happy with it because you think your country is better then everyone else, which pretty much says everything anyone needs to know abut you. And my country always qualifies. They've even won the Euros once which is more then your country.

[@DavidMuriuki-d2q]

Imagine if Denmark 🇩🇰 was a Nations League Semifinalist, but didn’t qualify for the 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ❓😵‍💫

[@basquat76]

As a Dane i have a hard time seeing us qualify for any f the two. New terrible manager, same players and style of football that clearly doesn't work.

[@DavidMuriuki-d2q]

@ Don’t think that way, I believe your nation will beat Portugal 🇵🇹 to get into the UNL Finals, and your country will qualify for their 7th FIFA WORLD CUP

[@basquat76]

@@DavidMuriuki-d2q You clearly haven't seen us play

[@Siwashable]

no, they won't.. too good to miss it.

[@roccociccone597]

No we won't simply by virtue of the possible teams we face. No need to cause drama

[@gomezlakade]

Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Obesos tiroteos de América: 0 😂😂😂😂

[@erxo1]

🇷🇴🇷🇴

[@ymcconszn1405]

Your fried if you don’t believe greece is winning the group

[@247xavier1]

Before asking for extraplaces for Europe, let's get England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland under one country...the United Kingdom. That opens fairly 3 places for other countries in Europe.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

If they had done that in the 60's and 70's, they would've been a force.

[@joeelliott4820]

You saying this as anyone apart for England does well

[@teodorsuditu6800]

HAI ROMANIA !

[@CoD.-tn7zh]

Italy not qualifying again would be amazing. Peace and quiet during the World Cup

[@lopportuniste5947]

AMEN

[@FernandoCruz-np9ev]

Get out of here! Italy Deserves to be in this World Cup!

[@Evanxbdlt]

As much as you may not like it Italy is an iconic country and they need to be there

[@chacosavage]

Its not as fun without them. Tbh

[@vinces1590]

That would apply to a lot countries if you want peace and quiet

[@paulocesarpaulocesar7759]

Pra mim se classificam ALEMANHA ITÁLIA FRANÇA ESPANHA PORTUGAL INGLATERRA DINAMARCA CROÁCIA BÉLGICA HOLANDA SUÍÇA SÉRVIA SUÉCIA NORUEGA POLÔNIA HUNGRIA.

[@Detroit_Lions1971]

Go Canada !!! & France !!!!

[@mouna5252elle]

Rooting for francophones right ? 😂 belgium speaks french too and a lot of african countries so you may want to root for them

[@eaglesrule1415]

Go Eagles👍💚

[@noname-ot7vd]

Yuck France 🇨🇵🤮

[@chacosavage]

The worst south american teama are better then middling euro teams that play for draws.

[@19mrlefty]

No chance. Teams like Norway and Sweden would have a much better chance at qualifying in South America. Last world cup, the 5th place team in S.America lost in the intercontinental playoff lol

[@chacosavage]

@19mrlefty paraguay is in 6th right now they'd easily beat Norway and Sweden. If you don't know soccer you'd think otherwise. Paraguay has 6 player in the premier league right now with a 18 year old signing to Manchester united this week

[@19mrlefty]

@@chacosavage the same Paraguay that finished dead last in the Copa America and lost to Costa Rica? Sweden, Serbia, Norway, pretty much all the 2nd pot European teams are just as good or better than Paraguay. In South America, you can lose 7 or 8 games in qualifying and still have a shot at qualifying. Last WC, Italy failed to qualify despite not even losing 1 game in the group stage.

[@chacosavage]

@19mrlefty they changed coach beat argentina brazil and havnt lost like i said you don't know soccer. Yes you can lose cause everyone loses it's the most competitive qualifiers in the world

[@19mrlefty]

​@@chacosavageThey also tied Bolivia and Ecuador, what's your point? I think you're the one who lacks football knowledge. Historically, Paraguay has a losing record against European team (and it's not even close). They've only won 13 games in 50+ games played. According to you, CONMEBOL is most competitive qualifying , yet you glossed over my earlier comment that the 5th place team couldn't even beat Australia in the last qualifying campaign. Again, Italy would never have missed qualifying if they were in S. América. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against S. American football but it is NOT more difficult to qualify in S.America. If you seriously think teams like Bolivia and Peru are better than teams like Hungary and Serbia, you need to get your head checked. There are 50+ members in uefa so of course there are some weak teams, but overall it's more difficult as there is much less room for error. Peace.

[@ludaglavaaa1795]

Croatia is not big team

[@jimclark6493]

3 medals say different.

[@dutchvanderlinde8034]

@@jimclark6493 They just don't have the squad quality and depth to be compared to teams like Germany, Italy, Spain, France etc.

[@jimclark6493]

@@dutchvanderlinde8034 obviously. What they’ve accomplished since they became independent is pretty impressive. Considering they have a population of less than 4 million people.

[@lindafedchuk5147]

Srbija is 😂😂😂😂😂

[@yoshiwoollyworld]

@@jimclark6493have won less euro knockout matches than denmark, greece, england, iceland and many other minnows