Latest news, features & gossip from the World Cup Qualification Inter-Confederation

Iraq urge FIFA to delay WC play-off amid war

Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to football’s international governing body to postpone his team’s intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Iran war. The Lions of Mesopotamia are currently scheduled to face either Suriname or Bolivia in a winner-takes-all play-off on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, but the logistical mountain has become too steep to climb.

World Cup 2026 draw: Everything you need to know

The latest information on the World Cup 2026 draw, including the date, what to expect in terms of teams and pots, and how to watch.

World Cup trophy Robert Lewandowski Poland Sandro Tonali Italy

World Cup 2026 play-offs: Fixtures, results & how to watch

The six remaining places at the 2026 World Cup will be decided through two play-off tournaments, featuring the likes of Italy, Poland, Jamaica and DR Congo, among others.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown Clock Is Unveiled In Mexico City

FIFA Play-Off Tournament: Everything you need to know

FIFA Play-Off Tournament — how it works, who qualifies, seeding, format, schedule and other key points you should know.

World Cup trophy Christian Pulisic Edson Alvarez

World Cup 2026: Full list of qualified teams

GOAL breaks down all the confirmed qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, plus the teams who could soon be on their way.

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most Conference League titles?

Since the Conference League's inception in 2021, three teams have lifted the trophy: Roma, West Ham United, and the current champions, Olympiacos.

How many teams are in the Conference League?

The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format.

Who has made the most Conference League appearances ever?

Mainz 05 midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Gent captain Sven Kums have made 39 appearances each in the Conference League, making them the players with the most appearances in the competition.

Who is the all-time top scorer of the Conference League?

As for top goalscorers, Arthur Cabral leads the list with 21 goals to his name, including those scored in the qualifying phase. However, without taking into account goals scored in the qualifying phase, three players have scored the joint-most goals in Conference League with 12 each to their names: Arthur Cabral, Eran Zahavi, and Vangelis Pavlidis.

Who has the most assists in the history of the Conference League?

Darian Males, Gavriel Kanichowsky, and Cristiano Biraghi have the most assists in Conference League history, registering eight assists each.

Who is the oldest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?

Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, while playing for Villarreal in 2023, became the oldest player to feature in the Conference League at 40 years and 175 days.

Who is the youngest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?

Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi holds the record as the Conference League's youngest-ever player at the tender age of 16 years and 3 days.

Which famous players have played in the Conference League?

Stars such as Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins,Co Mario Gotze, Kasper Schmeichel, Cody Gakpo, Stephan El Shaarawy, James Maddison, Jonathan David, and Edin Dzeko have played in the Conference League.

Which famous managers have managed in the Conference League?

Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Unai Emery, David Moyes, and Ange Postecoglou are among the most famous managers to have managed in the Conference League.