The FIFA World Cup 2026 is going to be the most expansive and inclusive tournament ever in the history of international football. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams (up from 32 teams), allowing for more nations to showcase their talent on the world’s biggest stage. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the 2026 World Cup will also be a first, as this is the first World Cup to be hosted in three nations, highlighting football's unique ability to blend cultures, stadiums, and love for football across the North American continent.
There will be greater global representation, a new format, and record levels of expectation about fan engagement at this tournament; the 2026 World Cup will change the future of the game of football. In addition, the qualifying process to find these teams is already underway, and it has created fierce competition in every corner of the world.
Check Out: FIFA World Cup 2026: Check Host Nations, Full Schedule, Fixtures and Teams
Who Has Qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Since the qualification matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026 started, 12 teams have already qualified for the 2026 tournament, which is being hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This edition will be the first to feature 48 teams, providing more nations with an opportunity to take their place on the football’s biggest stage.
Countries Qualified for the 2026 World Cup
| Continent | Qualified Countries |
|---|---|
| Host Nations (CONCACAF) | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Asia (AFC) | Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia, Jordan, Uzbekistan |
| Africa (CAF) | Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Cape Verde |
| South America (CONMEBOL) | Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay |
| Oceania (OFC) | New Zealand |
Automatically Qualified (Hosts)
The United States, Canada, and Mexico have automatically qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as co-hosts of the tournament.
AFC (Asia) - 6 Teams Qualified
Japan, South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Australia have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), with Uzbekistan and Jordan making their first appearances in the World Cup after reaching the third round of Asian qualifying.
CONMEBOL (South America) - 6 Teams Qualified
From South America, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and all three secured qualification early in what is widely regarded as one of the toughest qualifying campaigns in world football.
OFC (Oceania) - 1 Team Qualified
New Zealand
New Zealand won the Oceania qualifiers and will represent the region at the World Cup. The runner-up will enter the intercontinental play-offs.
Notable Highlights and First-Time Qualifiers
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has produced many historic summons and surprises already. For the first time, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Cape Verde have made it to the stage, which is a proud moment for their respective football federations.
The debut of these nations indicates that the new 48-team format is providing an opportunity to have more emerging nations compete in a bigger spotlight.
Countries in a similar situation to Brazil, Argentina, and France still continue to display their usual prowess, while Morocco and Ghana have performed well as an African nation. The balance of seasoned teams and emerging nations is certain to create a compelling World Cup in 2026.
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