Portugal, world champion in 2021 and second in the world ranking, advanced to the main round without playing the preliminary phase and will face Romania and Denmark between 12 October and 3 March 2027.

The winners of the 12 groups advance to the Elite Round, as well as the four best second-placed teams, while the remaining eight second-placed teams will compete in a play-off.

The Elite Round of European qualification for the World Cup will be played between 6 September and 22 December 2027, after the draw scheduled for 20 May.

UEFA will have seven teams among the 24 in the final phase of the 11th edition of the World Cup, the dates and location of which have not yet been defined.