When is the raffle and what quotes are missing?

Luis Díaz (I) of Colombia disputes a ball with Moisés Caicedo de Ecuador. Both selections will be in the 2026 World Cup.

Photo: EFE – Ricardo Maldonado Rozo

The Colombian team closed the South American qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup with a show in Maturín. Néstor Lorenzo's team beat Venezuela 6-3 in a game full of goals, in which Luis Javier Suárez was the great figure By marking four goals and becoming the first Colombian to achieve a poker in an official qualifying game.

With this triumph, The tricolor climbed to third place in the table with 28 pointsafter having reached the last double day in the sixth position, thus signing a remarkable comeback.

With the insured quota, now all the attention is put in the preparation for the World Cup, which will be played with June 11 to July 19, 2026 In the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Classified to the 2026 World Cup today

Colombia already appears on the list of 18 selections classified to World Cup 2026which represents almost 40 % of the 48 places available for Appointment in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Next to the tricolor, the hosts already secured their place Canada, Mexico and the United Statesin addition to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador and Paraguay by Conmebol. In Asia (AFC) they already classified Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan and Australiawhile in Africa (CAF) they already have a ticket Morocco and Tunisia. In Oceania the quota succeeded New Zealand.

They are still missing 30 quotas To complete the 48 World Cup teams 2026. Europe (UEFA) is the one that contributes the most, with 16 squares still definewhile in Africa (caf) they remain seven available tickets. In Concacaf they subtract three direct quotas more and in Asia (AFC) remains A pending quota. Oceania has already defined his representative, so there are no more places there.

The expectation is in which historical selections they will join the tournament and if there will be more surprises among the debutants that could first reach a World Cup.

Besides, The intercontinental qualifying tournament is pendingthat will be played in March 2026 in Mexico and that will deliver the last two places for repechage. There will be, for example, Boliviawhich ended seventh in the South American qualifiers and won the right to dispute that instance. The Altiplanic team must face five other selections from different confederations in a direct elimination mini-termination to try to seal their passport and join the group of countries that already think about the World Cup.

By the time other: Repechaje for the 2026 World Cup: When is it, who play it and how it works

FIFA World Cup and key dates

The calendar towards the 2026 World Cup already has marked key dates. The first big appointment will be the Official drawscheduled for the December 5, 2025 in Washingtonalthough at that time all classified will not yet be defined. This raffle will be held with the equipment confirmed to date, so some groups will be left with “pending” boxes, above all, the winners of the repechages.

The next FIFA dates will be decisive to close the list of 48 participants. Between him October 6 and 14, 2025 A double day will be played that can leave several selections with the insured ticket, and between the November 10 and 18, 2025 The most decisive window will be played: there will be the deadline to deliver the direct quotas of Concacaf, Asia and Africa.

Finally, in March 2026 (23 to 31) The last double FIFA date will be played before the World Cup, in which the UEFA will define its repells and close its 16 classifiedthus completing the list of Europe. That same month, in Mexico, the Intercontinental Repechaje Tournamentwhich will deliver the last two places to the World Cup.

The preparation will close with the FIFA date of June 1 to 9, 2026and then give way to the beginning of the 2026 World Cupthat will be played June 11 to July 19 In the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Colombia, to prepare

With all that calendar in mind, the Colombia selection already plans His way to the 2026 World Cup With a loaded agenda.

In October he will face Mexico en Arlington y a Canada In New Jersey, while in November it will be measured, again in the United States, with New Zealand and Nigeria To continue adjusting pieces.

In 2026, although these rivals are not confirmed, the preparation is expected to continue European rivals as Croatia and Belgium On the FIFA date of March, which will serve as the last great exam before the tournament.

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