FIFA World Cup 2026: All Qualified Teams

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is all set to be the biggest in tournament history, with 48 teams ready to compete for the ultimate glory of being crowned world champions. It will be the first time with the expanded format, while it will also be the first occasion of the competition being held across three host nations.

The race for qualification to the World Cup is well and truly underway, and countries around the globe are competing in high-stakes matches to ensure their tickets are booked. As we get closer and closer to the tournament’s beginning – it is set to be held between June 11 and July 19 in 2026 – more and more countries will see their places confirmed. Below is a list of every team that has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far.

Number of Teams From Each Confederation at the World Cup

CONCACAF

As joint hosts, USA, Canada and Mexico earned automatic qualification into the FIFA World Cup 2026. The US will be hosting for the first time since 1994. Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s frailties were exposed during the team’s performances in the CONCACAF Nations League, where they were knocked out at the semi-finals stage by Panama. Then, in the third-place play-off, they came up short against rivals Canada – the side led by American Jesse Marsch. Form since has been mixed, but a 2-0 win over Japan has left some room for optimism.

Under the aforementioned Marsch, Canada’s displays in the CONCACAF Nations League – where they finished in third – has pointed to a much brighter future than what it looked like just 12 months ago. Blessed with several top talent who are performing at the highest level in European football – the likes of Alphonso Davies at Bayern Munich and Jonathan David at Lille to name but a couple – Canada could make a case to do the best out of the three hosts at the 2026 World Cup.

Winners of the CONCACAF Nations League by virtue a 2-1 victory over surprise finalists Panama, Mexico have a rich history of World Cup competition that should hold them in good stead when they get to the group stages of the tournament in 2026. Managed by veteran boss Javier Aguirre – his third stint as Mexico manager in his long career – the side possess experienced campaigners who are playing all across the world, including Fulham centre-forward Raul Jimenez and Milan striker Santiago Gimenez.

Asia

The first team to make the World Cup by way of actual qualification, Japan booked their place at the tournament by beating Bahrain 2-0 and thus securing a top-two place in its Asian Football Confederation qualifying group. Led by manager Hajime Moriyasu since 2018, Japan will be making their eighth consecutive appearance at the World Cup. The likes of Daichi Kamada, Takefuso Kubo, Wataru Endo, Kaoru Mitoma and Celtic duo Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda are among the talent plying their trade in European football right now.

Iran have qualified too, but their participation has already made headlines. Indeed, the nation’s delegation, including national team manager Amir Ghalenoei, sent to attend the December draw for the 2026 World Cup, were denied entry into the United States of America. It remains unclear how this will impact their participation next summer.

South Korea did brilliantly to finish second in a group of Uruguay, Portugal and Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, before losing to Brazil in the Round of 16. They’ll get another chance to impress this summer, having now qualified for the 2026 tournament.

The expansion of the competition has opened up that chance for smaller footballing nations to qualify, and both Uzbekistan and Jordan have done well to take up the opportunity, as they will now be playing at their first-ever World Cup. Tournament regulars Australia have also made it via the Asian Football Confederation.

Qatar will also be playing in back-to-back World Cups. Having been hosts in 2022, they’ll now hope to have more success on the pitch at the first tournament they’ve made it to via official qualification. They’ll be joined by Saudi Arabia, who famously beat Argentina at the last World Cup.

CONMEBOL

The reigning champions of the World Cup, Argentina booked their chance at retaining their crown by virtue of a thumping 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires. The 2026 World Cup is surely set to be Messi’s final hurrah at the tournament, and he will be desperately hoping to entrench his legacy in football even further by getting his hands on the Jules Rimet trophy once again.

The aforementioned Brazil have also made it, of course, but they didn’t do so in particularly impressive fashion. Indeed, they secured their spot despite finishing in fifth place. The nation’s hopes will remain characteristically high, though, especially with Carlo Ancelotti now calling the shots.

There will be a strong South American representation at the tournament in 2026, with the likes of Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay also making it through at this point. Of the lot, Ecuador could be the team to look out for, finishing as runners-up in qualification, only behind Argentina.

Oceania

After Japan became the first country outside of the hosts to qualify for the World Cup, New Zealand quickly followed just a few days later by booking their place at the tournament. A 3-0 win over New Caledonia in the OFC World Cup qualifiers final marked the first time that a side from the Oceania confederation had earned direct qualification to the World Cup.

New Zealand’s participation at the tournament will be their first since 2010, and has a lot to do with the revamped format. Having won Oceania’s qualifying stage for the 2022 edition, that only secured them a place in the inter-confederation play-off against the fourth placed team in CONCACAF qualifying, which turned out to be Costa Rica and a game they eventually lost.

Africa

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Morocco was one of the breakout teams at Qatar 2022, becoming both the first African and Arab nation to reach a semi-final at a World Cup. They beat the likes of Spain, Belgium and Portugal before eventually losing to France only one step away from the final. They’ll hope to impress next time around, having now qualified.

Joining them will be Egypt, who missed out in 2022, but were at Russia 2018. With 2 draws and 5 losses, they have never won a match in the World Cup finals. With Mohamed Salah in their midst, it would be foolish to dismiss their chances of finally getting a first victory.

Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, and Cape Verde will all feature at the World Cup in 2026. Tunisia and Ghana both failed to get out of their groups in 2022, while Algeria have been absent since 2014, but will now play at their fifth edition of the competition. It’s a special story for Cape Verde, who will be competing at their first tournament. A remarkable achievement, as they have a population of just 525,000 people, making them the second-least populated country to have ever qualified.

South Africa are also back in the World Cup for the first time since they hosted 2010. They were actually docked 3 points – for fielding Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho when he was suspended – but it didn’t hold them back. A 3-0 win against Rwanda meant they topped Group C.

Senegal sealed their spot in the most convincing manner, thumping Mauritania 4-0 as Sadio Mane neeted a brace.

Ivory Coast also cruised as they secured their spot with a 3-0 win over Kenya to top their group

Europe

Having finished runners-up at the last two Euros, while losing to France at the quarter-finals stage in 2022, England will be hoping this is finally their year. With Thomas Tuchel calling the shots instead of Gareth Southgate, the early signs have looked good, and qualification has been a smooth process. That said, anything but a repeat of their success in 1966 will be viewed as a failure for this talented group.

The Three Lions aren’t the only British nation to be heading for America in 2026. Scotland secured their place at a World Cup for the first time in 27 years as Steve Clarke’s men defeated Denmark in a dramatic Hampden Park clash.

Powerhouses Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and the Netherlands all booked their flights by winning their respective groups after heading in as strong favourites. Belgium, Switzerland and Austria – like Scotland – all left it until the final matchday to reach the World Cup.

Croatia – 2018 finalists – and Norway are the other two European sides that will head to the USA, Canada and Mexico. The latter will play at their first World Cup since 1998 thanks to the incredible qualifying form of Manchester City frontman Erling Haaland.