FIFA Adjusts European World Cup Qualifying Groups, Incorporates UEFA Nations League

FIFA is introducing a new World Cup qualifying system for Europe, emphasizing the UEFA Nations League over traditional world rankings. The change affects the seeding process, potentially benefiting lower-ranked teams and creating more groups with fewer teams. Details of the new format will be confirmed this week.

FIFA is set to implement a more intricate draw for European World Cup qualifying groups, placing greater emphasis on the UEFA Nations League rather than solely relying on world rankings. This new system will keep teams in suspense, as they will have to wait months to learn their complete list of opponents.

The revised format means the draw in December will only feature placeholder names for top-seeded teams since the Nations League will still be ongoing. The eight Nations League quarterfinalists and the top four non-quarterfinalists in the UEFA competition will form the top-seeded teams in the 12 groups. The final matchups won't be known until the quarterfinals conclude in March 2023.

This change aims to give lower-ranked teams like Hungary and Scotland a chance to secure a top seed with a strong Nations League performance, while high-ranked teams such as France and Spain can still secure direct top-seed routes. FIFA detailed the changes in a briefing to UEFA federations, marking a significant shift from the 2022 World Cup's reliance on FIFA rankings.

(With inputs from agencies.)