Who's In? Complete List of Teams Qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026
The complete, up-to-date list of all 48 teams qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026. See which nations have booked their tickets to USA, Canada & Mexico by confederation.
The biggest FIFA World Cup in history is coming, and fans around the world are asking one simple question: who's qualified for World Cup 2026?
With the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 teams for the first time ever, more nations than ever before will get to experience the magic of the World Cup. The 2026 edition, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Let's break down every team that's punched their ticket so far, organized by confederation.
The Host Nations: Automatic Qualifiers
Before we dive into the qualifiers, let's start with the three nations that got in automatically as co-hosts:
- United States – The USMNT will play their opening match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12, 2026
- Canada – Les Rouges kick off at BMO Field in Toronto, also on June 12
- Mexico – El Tri gets the honor of opening the entire tournament at Estadio Azteca on June 11
This marks a historic first – it's the first World Cup hosted by three nations simultaneously.
UEFA (Europe) – 16 Spots
Europe gets the most spots at World Cup 2026, with 16 teams heading to North America. Here's who's already locked in:
Qualified Teams (12 confirmed)
| Team | Qualification Route | Key Player |
|------|-------------------|------------|
| England | Group Winner | Jude Bellingham |
| France | Group Winner | Kylian Mbappé |
| Spain | Group Winner | Pedri |
| Germany | Group Winner | Florian Wirtz |
| Portugal | Group Winner | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| Netherlands | Group Winner | Virgil van Dijk |
| Belgium | Group Winner | Kevin De Bruyne |
| Switzerland | Group Winner | Granit Xhaka |
| Austria | Group Winner | David Alaba |
| Croatia | Group Winner | Luka Modrić |
| Scotland | Group Winner | John McGinn |
| Norway | Group Winner | Erling Haaland |
Still Fighting for 4 Remaining Spots
The UEFA playoffs will determine the final four European qualifiers. Teams still in contention include:
- Italy – The four-time champions missed out on automatic qualification
- Denmark – A consistent knockout round presence
- Turkey – Looking to return after missing Qatar 2022
- Sweden – Aiming to bounce back
- Wales – Gareth Bale may have retired, but the Dragons aren't done
- Northern Ireland – Could face their neighbors in playoffs
The UEFA playoffs take place in March 2026.
CONMEBOL (South America) – 6 Spots + 1 Playoff
South America's grueling 18-match qualifying campaign has delivered some drama. Here's who's through:
Qualified Teams
| Position | Team | Points | Key Moment |
|----------|------|--------|------------|
| 1st | Argentina | 29 | Dominated qualifiers as defending champs |
| 2nd | Uruguay | 23 | Bielsa's tactical masterclass |
| 3rd | Ecuador | 22 | Consistent performances |
| 4th | Colombia | 22 | James Rodríguez renaissance |
| 5th | Brazil | 21 | Recovered under new management |
| 6th | Paraguay | 20 | Back at the World Cup |
Playoff Spot
Bolivia (7th place) – The altitude specialists will compete in the inter-confederation playoffs for one of two remaining spots.
CAF (Africa) – 9 Spots + 1 Playoff
Africa's allocation has increased from 5 to 9 teams – a massive boost for the continent. Qualifying wraps up soon, but several teams have already secured their spots.
Qualified Teams
| Team | Notable Achievement |
|------|-------------------|
| Morocco | 2022 semifinalists building on momentum |
| Senegal | AFCON champions remain a force |
| Egypt | Mo Salah leads the Pharaohs back |
| Algeria | Desert Foxes return to the big stage |
| South Africa | Bafana Bafana qualify for first time since 2010 |
| Ivory Coast | AFCON 2023 hosts punch their ticket |
| Tunisia | North African giants qualify |
| Ghana | Black Stars represent West Africa |
| Cape Verde | First-ever World Cup qualification! |
The Cape Verde Story
Perhaps the most incredible story of qualification: Cape Verde, a tiny island nation of just 600,000 people, earned their first-ever World Cup spot by winning their group ahead of Cameroon. They're living proof that World Cup dreams know no size limits.
Playoff Spot
DR Congo earned Africa's inter-confederation playoff spot.
AFC (Asia) – 8 Spots + 1 Playoff
Asia's allocation jumped from 4.5 to 8.5 teams, and the continent has delivered some exciting qualifiers.
Qualified Teams
| Team | Highlight |
|------|-----------|
| Japan | First to qualify (March 2024) |
| Australia | Socceroos back in the mix |
| Iran | Team Melli remains consistent |
| Saudi Arabia | Looking to build on Argentina upset |
| South Korea | Son Heung-min leads the Taeguk Warriors |
| Qatar | 2022 hosts earn their spot on merit |
| Uzbekistan | First World Cup qualification ever! |
| Jordan | Historic first World Cup appearance! |
First-Timers
Uzbekistan and Jordan will both make their World Cup debuts in 2026. Jordan's qualification is particularly special – they became the first team from the Levant region to qualify for a men's World Cup.
Playoff Spot
Iraq secured Asia's playoff spot with a dramatic 3-2 aggregate victory over UAE.
CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean) – 6 Spots + 2 Playoffs
With the three host nations automatically in, CONCACAF needed to find three more qualifiers.
Qualified Teams (Beyond Hosts)
| Team | Achievement |
|------|-------------|
| Panama | Los Canaleros return to the World Cup |
| Haiti | Caribbean nation qualifies! |
| Curaçao | Smallest nation ever to qualify! |
The Curaçao Miracle
Curaçao has made history by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. With a population of around 150,000, this tiny Caribbean island showed that anything is possible in football.
Playoff Spots
Jamaica and Suriname will compete in the inter-confederation playoffs.
OFC (Oceania) – 1 Spot + 1 Playoff
For the first time ever, OFC has been guaranteed one automatic spot at the World Cup.
Qualified Team
- New Zealand – The All Whites claimed their spot with a 3-0 victory in the OFC final
Playoff Spot
New Caledonia will compete in the inter-confederation playoffs.
Inter-Confederation Playoffs: The Final 2 Spots
Six teams will compete for the last two World Cup berths in March 2026:
| Confederation | Team |
|---------------|------|
| AFC | Iraq |
| CONMEBOL | Bolivia |
| CAF | DR Congo |
| CONCACAF | Jamaica |
| CONCACAF | Suriname |
| OFC | New Caledonia |
The playoffs are split into two brackets of three teams, with each bracket winner qualifying.
Historic Firsts at World Cup 2026
This tournament will feature several nations making their World Cup debuts:
- Cape Verde (Africa)
- Uzbekistan (Asia)
- Jordan (Asia)
- Curaçao (CONCACAF)
- Haiti (if confirmed, returning after 1974)
Who's Missing?
Some notable absentees (so far) from the 2026 World Cup:
- Italy – Four-time champions must navigate playoffs
- Nigeria – Super Eagles in playoff position
- Cameroon – Lost out to Cape Verde
- Chile – Struggling in CONMEBOL qualifiers
What's Next?
The final list of 48 teams will be confirmed by March 2026, following:
- UEFA playoffs (4 spots)
- Inter-confederation playoffs (2 spots)
Keep checking back as we update this list with every new qualifier. The road to USA, Canada & Mexico 2026 is heating up!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams will play at World Cup 2026?
A total of 48 teams will compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, up from 32 teams at previous tournaments. This expansion means more nations than ever will experience the World Cup.
When does World Cup 2026 start?
The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The final takes place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Which confederation has the most World Cup spots?
UEFA (Europe) has 16 spots, followed by Africa with 9, Asia with 8.5, CONMEBOL with 6.5, CONCACAF with 6, and OFC with 1.5. The half-spots represent inter-confederation playoff positions.
Is this the first World Cup hosted by three countries?
Yes! The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first in history to be co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Last updated: December 2024. Check our Teams page for complete squad information and our Groups page to see the full draw.