World Cup Qualifiers: How Does Malta Approaches – Europe 2026

Today’s UEFA Preliminary Draw in Zurich, Switzerland, marked the formal start of Malta’s path to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Malta will participate in Group G against Poland, Finland, Lithuania, the defeated QF1 team (Spain or the Netherlands), and Malta itself.

Malta faces possibilities and problems in the draw as they prepare to play top football countries.

For Malta, this draw provides an opportunity to demonstrate the country’s football development and aspirations, not merely a schedule of games. Malta, one of the smaller countries in European football, has proven resilient and determined in previous qualifying campaigns. The cfb betting model helps sports bettors to help with their best strategies. The group will now take on this new task to build on past experiences.

A Greater Chance in the 2026 World Cup

With UEFA having 16 qualifying slots available and the FIFA World Cup growing to 48 teams, countries like Malta will have more chances to hope for a worldwide appearance.

Malta will be able to play against some of the best teams in Europe and have an influence throughout the qualifying process, which gets set to begin in March 2025. As it sets off on this thrilling trip, the national team will rely on its devoted fan base and unflinching spirit.

How do the 2026 World Cup playoffs operate?

The four top-ranked group winners of the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League who did not place first or second in their European Qualifiers group stage will compete in the playoffs, as will the 12 group runners-up.

The 16 teams who qualify for the playoffs will be divided into four groups, each has four teams. In March 2026, within the same international window, playoff games will be contested in single-leg semifinals and finals.

Tough groupings with an eye to the Nations League:

One of the more interesting groupings is Group A, which includes Slovakia and Northern Ireland and the winner of the Nations League quarterfinal matchup between Italy and Germany. Spain or the Netherlands, the current European champions, will head Group E, which also has up-and-coming talents like Georgia’s explosive combo of Mikautadze and Varatskhelia and Arda Güler’s Türkiye. The favorites in Group K, England, the Euro 2024 finalists will go to North America and play Serbia and Albania. NCAAFB computer picks & predictions work for the sports bettors to understand the winning strategies. The winner of the France vs. Croatia match will face Czechia and Montenegro in Group L, which promises to be a tough fight for a straight route to entrance in 2026.

The 2018 World Cup finalists face Ukraine, the tenacious Iceland, and Azerbaijan in Group D if one of them struggles in their Nations League match. If Spain were surprised by the Dutch, they would wind up in Group G, along with Poland, Finland, Lithuania, and Malta. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, and San Marino will face Austria and Romania, two up-and-coming central-eastern European powers, in Group H, one of the few not dependent on the competition established in 2018.

Regarding Group A, Germany and Italy have a lot on the line. Erling Haaland, Alexander Sørloth, and Martin Ødegaard of Norway will be in the tough group I task for the loser of their Nations League match. The group gets completed by Israel, a dark horse in excellent form, and the somewhat less dangerous Estonia and Moldova. Belgium is trying to resurrect its golden generation in Group J, perhaps the least exciting on paper. De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Courtois are all over thirty. Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, and Wales shouldn’t present the Red Devils with massive obstacles.

In Group B, Sweden, whose attack is led by elite players Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski, as well as in-form striker Viktor Gyökeres, will take on the always impressive Switzerland, one of the final surprises of the Euros. Despite being underdogs, Slovenia and Kosovo are ready to challenge the favorites in what looks to be a fiercely contested group. In Group C, Greece, Scotland, and Belarus will test Portugal’s opponent in the quarterfinals of the Nations League. As the all-time top scorer in one of Cristiano Ronaldo’s favorite competitions, the winning team will advance to Group F, where Hungary and the Republic of Ireland await.