The journey to the next World Cup begins with international qualifiers, where teams vie for a place in one of football’s most prestigious competitions. The process is often as much about national pride and the challenge of competing against larger, more resourced teams as it is about footballing ability, and the final tournament often offers the chance for underdog nations to rise to the occasion.

Qualifications have evolved since 1930, but the basic structure remains the same: teams compete in zones that roughly correspond to continents, where they fight for a fixed number of berths at the final tournament. FIFA rankings play a significant role in the qualifying process, with higher-ranked teams often rewarded for their efforts with a less difficult path through the group stages.

This year, Europe’s qualification began in March, and is now largely completed. Most European nations that are not playing UEFA Nations League matches will participate, with 54 teams divided into 12 groups of five or six teams who face each other twice in home-and-away games in a hexa-format. The top team in each group qualifies automatically, while runners-up enter inter-confederation playoffs.

These high-stakes battles see fans flock to local stadiums, boosting demand for hotels and transport services, and giving regional cities the chance to showcase their cultural and natural attractions. The ensuing boost in tourism helps local businesses, generating an income that often lasts long after the qualifiers have finished.