Football

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Teams Preparing On Full Tilt Ahead Of Crucial Matches

The European, South American and Asian qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2026 are all set to resume at different venues across the globe, with Matchday 1 taking place on 21 March. Heavyweights like Brazil, Argentina, England are training in full swing for the crucial games, which will decide the fate for next year's showpiece event. One big downer for the Argentine side is that their talismanic forward Lionel Messi is injured and will not play the clashes against Uruguay and Brazil. England will take on Albania and Latvia in the European tournament while Australia will lock horns with Indonesia, first up.

FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Argentina's Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Argentina Players Training | Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko

Argentina's players warm up during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 soccer qualifier against Uruguay, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Argentinas Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Argentina Players Training | Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko

Argentina's Julian Alvarez kicks a soccer ball during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 qualifier against Uruguay, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Argentinas Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Argentina Players Training | Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko

Argentina's Leandro Paredes, right, warms up during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 soccer qualifier against, Uruguay in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Argentinas Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Argentina Players Training | Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko

Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul, center, warms up during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 soccer qualifier against Uruguay, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Argentinas Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Argentina Players Training | Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni watches his players during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 soccer qualifier against Uruguay, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Australias Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Australia Players Training | Photo: AP/Mark Baker

Australian players warm up during a training session ahead of the World Cup qualifying match against Indonesia at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Australias Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Australia Players Training | Photo: AP/Mark Baker

Australian players train ahead of the World Cup qualifying match against Indonesia at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Australias Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Australia Players Training | Photo: AP/Mark Baker

Australian players train ahead of the World Cup qualifying match against Indonesia at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Indonesian Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Indonesian Players Training | Photo: AP/Mark Baker

Indonesian players stretch during a training session ahead of the World Cup qualifying match against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Indonesian Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Indonesian Players Training | Photo: AP/Mark Baker

Indonesia's coach Patrick Kluivert, left, watches his players train ahead of the World Cup qualifying match against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Brazil Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Brazil Players Training | Photo: AP/Eraldo Peres

Brazil's Endrick, center, Vinicius Junior, left, and Rodrygo kick around during a national soccer team training session, in Brasilia, Brazil.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Brazil Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Brazil Players Training | Photo: AP/Eraldo Peres

Brazil's Vinicius Junior, second from left, controls the ball during a national soccer team training session, in Brasilia, Brazil.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Brazil Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Brazil Players Training | Photo: AP/Eraldo Peres

Brazil's Endrick eyes the ball during a national soccer team training session, in Brasilia, Brazil.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Brazil Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Brazil Players Training | Photo: AP/Eraldo Peres

Brazil's players do drills during a national soccer team training session, in Brasilia, Brazil.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Brazil Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Brazil Players Training | Photo: AP/Eraldo Peres

Brazil's coach Dorival Junior holds soccer balls before a national team training session, in Brasilia, Brazil.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Englands Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: England Players Training | Photo: Mike Egerton/PA via AP

England's Marcus Rasdhford during a training session at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent, England.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Englands Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: England Players Training | Photo: Mike Egerton/PA via AP

England's Jude Bellingham during a training session during a training session at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent, England.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Englands Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: England Players Training | Photo: Mike Egerton/PA via AP

England's Myles Lewis-Skelly attends a training session at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent, England.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer Qualifiers: Englands Football players training
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: England Players Training | Photo: Mike Egerton/PA via AP

England soccer manager Thomas Tuchel with assistant Anthony Barry, right, attends a training session at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent, England.

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