CONCACAF Sets 2026–2030 Calendar, Unveils 2030 World Cup Qualifying Format

Overview

• CONCACAF says it will have six automatic places at the 2030 World Cup plus a possible seventh via an inter‑confederation playoff, a claim FIFA has not publicly confirmed.
• World Cup qualifying opens in September–October 2027 with Round One home‑and‑home series for teams ranked 14–35, producing 11 winners.
• Round Two adds the top 13 seeds to the 11 Round One winners in six groups of four, playing home and away across late September–October 2027, November 2027, and March 2028, with the top two per group advancing.
• The Final Round features 12 teams in three groups of four in June 2028 and September–October 2029, sending the top two in each group directly to 2030 and moving the two best third‑place teams to a November 2029 CONCACAF play‑in for the inter‑confederation playoff.
• The Nations League returns in Fall 2026 with new League B and C finals and a 2027 Finals at SoFi Stadium, while the Gold Cup is scheduled for June–July 2027 with preliminary rounds in March.