North Macedonia and the 2030 World Cup

Chances at the 2030 World Cup

North Macedonia qualify in 6.5% of simulated campaigns: outsiders, but with a route that opens up often enough to be worth playing for. The single most likely outcome is not qualifying (93.5% of cycles).

When they are at the finals, North Macedonia get out of their group 21.2% of the time; a quarter-final comes up in <0.1% of all cycles.

A 64-team World Cup would change the picture: with the extra places the simulator assumes for that format, North Macedonia qualify in 13.2% of campaigns instead of 6.5%.

Share of 20,000 simulated cycles, from first qualifier to final, in which North Macedonia got at least this far. How the simulation works · All 211 nations

The route to the finals

Europe's qualifying is played in twelve groups: each group winner qualifies, and the eight best runners-up play off for the last two places. North Macedonia come in at the group stage.

There are 14 places for the 53 nations that have to qualify.

UEFA qualifying in full: format, what is official and every nation's odds.

How strong are they?

North Macedonia have 1350.91 points in the FIFA ranking published on 7 October 2026, which places them 71st in the world and 32nd of the 55 nations in Europe. The simulator uses that points total directly as the team's rating.

Their attack score is 42 and their defence score 63, on a scale of 1 to 100 built from the last 30 internationals. The scores describe a side built on defence: fewer goals scored than its rating would suggest, and fewer conceded.

Around them in UEFA

North Macedonia at the World Cup

They have never played at a World Cup finals.