For the World Cup 2026, Europe has 16 slots out of 54 participating teams in the qualifiers (Russia is banned), which is equivalent to 29,6%. In contrast, South America, a region with 10 national teams, has been allocated six direct slots plus one play-off spot, meaning 60% to 70% of its teams could participate in North and Central America next summer.

Turkey (white) drew 2-2 with Spain in the final matchday, finishing second in Group E of the European World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Photo: Reuters

This disparity becomes clearer when considering the overall allocation system for the World Cup 2026 finals. South America, Europe, and Asia each account for a maximum of 19,5%, while Africa is 18,86%, CONCACAF 18,75%, and so on. This leads to a sense of injustice due to the differing qualification rates across regions.

Last week, Italy coach Genaro Gattuso publicly criticized the current mechanism, arguing that South America benefits excessively. He stated: "In 1990, only two African teams participated in the World Cup, then three teams in 1994. Now it is nine teams. I am not complaining, but it creates difficulties, and everyone understands that. In South America, six out of 10 teams qualify directly, and the seventh goes to a play-off against an Oceania representative. That makes people regretful and sad. The system in Europe needs to change."

Vincenzo Montella, coach of Turkey, shares this view. In the final match of Group E in the European qualifiers, his team drew 2-2 against Spain. Ultimately, they finished second and must compete in a play-off for a remaining spot, while Spain secured direct qualification.

According to Montella, Turkey faces an immense challenge to secure a direct spot, as they would have to finish above Spain, currently one of the strongest teams in the world. The 51-year-old coach expressed: "In South America, they can afford to make mistakes because there are fewer competing teams and more slots. In Europe, just one misstep can lead to the play-offs or elimination."

Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella. Photo: EFE

Montella suggests that the European qualifiers should adopt the current Champions League model, a "League" format. He acknowledged that a single group of 54 teams is impossible but proposed an alternative of six groups, each with nine teams, where the top two teams from each group would directly qualify for the World Cup, and the remaining four slots would be decided through play-offs.

Recently, even major teams have faced risks in the European qualifiers; for example, Italy is at risk of missing three consecutive tournaments, and Portugal has had to play in play-offs three times since 2010.

World Cup 2026 has already identified 42 out of the 48 teams that will participate in the tournament. This will be the largest World Cup in terms of team numbers, the longest in duration, and the first to be held across three countries: My, Canada, and Mexico.

Compiled by Hong Duy