Overview
- Qualifying opens in September 2027 with teams ranked 14–35 playing two-legged ties, and 11 winners joining 13 top-ranked sides in six groups of four scheduled for October–November 2027 and March 2028.
- A 12-team final phase will create three groups of four played in June 2028 and September–October 2029, with the top two in each group earning direct World Cup berths.
- The two best third-placed teams will face off in November 2029 to decide Concacaf’s representative for the intercontinental playoff.
- The six direct places reflect FIFA’s expansion to a 48-team World Cup, which increases opportunities for the North, Central America and Caribbean region.
- Concacaf also confirmed SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as the venue for the 2027 Nations League semifinals and final.