The road to the 2026 World Cup has only just begun. With three countries as hosts – the United States, Mexico and Canada – and in the first tournament with up to 48 teams, we take a look at which teams are mathematically qualified for a tournament that will begin on 11th June and end on 19th July 2026. Up to 29 national teams have earned their ticket on sporting merit.
There is already a World Cup feeling in the air now that there is less than a year to go before the next tournament begins, which will take place in 2026 across three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada. These are the first teams to qualify for a competition that will feature a major change.
For the first time since the tournament was created, the World Cup will include 48 national teams. The number rises from the 32 that competed in Qatar in 2022 to 48, divided into 12 groups of four.
The top two from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will progress to the last 16. The tournament will run from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
With three teams already qualified as hosts, there are 45 spots up for grabs: 16 for UEFA, 9 for CAF, 8 for AFC, 6 for CONMEBOL, 3 for CONCACAF and one for OFC. Japan became the first team to qualify on sporting merit through the Asian route, followed by New Zealand in Oceania.
The next team to book their ticket were Iran, who grabbed an 83rd-minute equaliser against Uzbekistan, enough to seal their place.
Uzbekistan themselves, as well as Jordan and South Korea, have also secured their AFC spots during this June international window, with Australia joining them at the end of the third round of Asian qualifying. Brazil and Ecuador have also met their targets.
Argentina, the reigning world champions, also accelerated towards the next World Cup. The Albiceleste, hours before playing the Superclasico against Brazil, sealed qualification thanks to a draw between Bolivia and Uruguay. Lionel Scaloni’s side are the first CONMEBOL team to qualify.
In Africa, Morocco opened the chapter by claiming the 17th ticket for next summer’s tournament. Walid Regragui’s team defeated Niger 5-0 with a brace from Ismael Saibari and goals from Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi.
Tunisia were the second to secure their place after a late 94th-minute Ben Romdhane goal against Equatorial Guinea. Egypt followed, confirming qualification with a match to spare after beating Djibouti, while Algeria sealed their passage with a comfortable win over Somalia a day later.
Ghana claimed the fifth CAF spot by beating Comoros 1-0 in the final match of the qualifying campaign. Cape Verde deserve a chapter of their own, having topped Group D in Africa with 23 points to secure their first-ever World Cup qualification.
South Africa also returned to the World Cup after 15 years away, beating Rwanda 3-0 to win their group and book their spot in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Senegal and the Ivory Coast claimed the remaining direct CAF places.
In Asia, Qatar became the continent’s seventh representative. The national side coached by Spaniard Julen Lopetegui made it through the final qualifying round after beating Oman and the United Arab Emirates to top their group and reach their second World Cup, this time through qualification rather than as hosts.
Shortly afterwards, Saudi Arabia joined them, earning their place with a goalless draw against Iraq.
UEFA opened its list of World Cup participants with England. The English side became the first to secure qualification in Europe after topping Group K regardless of the remaining fixtures.
France were next, following a 4-0 win over Ukraine in the penultimate qualifying round. On Friday, Croatia sealed their ticket by beating the Faroe Islands to lead Group L with 19 points and one match remaining.
Europe had to wait until the final matchday to confirm the nine teams qualifying directly, without going through the play-offs. The first were Portugal, even without Cristiano Ronaldo in the decisive match.
Later, Norway sealed their place after thrashing Italy, returning to the World Cup 28 years after their last appearance in 1998. The Netherlands and Germany followed after big wins on the final day.
On Europe’s last day of action, Spain, Scotland, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria also booked their tickets.
Injury-time wonder-goals by Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean handed Scotland a stunning 4-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday to qualify them for the 2026 World Cup, while Spain also booked their ticket with a 2-2 draw against Turkey.
Belgium thumped Liechtenstein 7-0 to reach next year’s tournament as Switzerland and Austria ground out draws to secure their places in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The excitement was palpable in the final matches before the play-offs, the CONCACAF qualifiers. There, and not without suffering, Curacao made history by reaching their first-ever World Cup. In addition, Haiti and Panama will take part in their second global tournament.