The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of the global showpiece, will take place from the 11th of June to the 19th of July, 2026.
It will be the first time that the World Cup will be co-hosted by three countries.
Furthermore, the tournament will be the first to include 48 countries, expanded from the previous 32.
Forty-two nations have qualified for the 2026 World Cup so far, with six more places up for grabs at next summer’s tournament.
FootballOrbit presents you with the countries that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup ’26.
Qualification places for each region
AFC: Eight direct spots + one Play-Off Tournament place
CAF: Nine direct spots + one Play-Off Tournament place
CONCACAF: Six direct spots + two Play-Off Tournament places
CONMEBOL: Six direct spots + one Play-Off Tournament place
OFC: One direct spot + one Play-Off Tournament place
UEFA: 16 direct spots.
How countries qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
USA
As co-hosts, USA automatically qualified for a second consecutive World Cup and will be looking to better their round of 16 performance at the 2022 edition in Qatar.
It will be the United States’ 12th World Cup and their second on home soil after initially hosting it 1994.
Also, their 1930 run to the semi-finals was the nation’s best showing at the tournament to date.
Furthermore, USA will become one of the only five nations to host more than one world finals, including 2026 co-host Mexico.
Canada
In 2026, Canada will be hosting the FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.
Next year’s tournament will be the first time that the Maple Leafs have ever reached back-to-back tournaments.
Moreover, Canada’s previous appearances at the competition came in 1986 and 2022, which both brought winless group stage exits.
Mexico
The 2026 World Cup will be the third time that Mexico has played host to the tournament, following 1970 and 1986. This means that El Tri have hosted the event more times than any other country.
The first time Mexico staged world football’s showpiece event was in 1970. With an inspired Pele in their ranks, champions Brazil dazzled the watching world in a tournament that featured legends such as Franz Beckenbauer as well as a series of historic games, like the semi-final between Italy and West Germany.
Sixteen years later, in 1986, Mexico was again the host, this time witnessing the exaltation of Diego Armando Maradona. The Argentine star was at the peak of his powers at that tournament, steering La Albiceleste to their second world title with victory over West Germany.
Besides, this will be the nation’s 18th World Cup, with their previous best performances coming on home soil — as they reached the quarter-finals in both 1970 and 1986.
Japan
Japan became the first nation to qualify for the tournament apart from the co-hosts.
The Samurai Blue eased through qualifying to secure their place at the global showpiece.
Japan booked their ticket with three group games left to spare in the third round of the AFC preliminaries and will compete in their eighth successive World Cup.
The Samurai Blue have been in outstanding form during the AFC preliminaries, and booked their ticket to the 48-team tournament with a 2-0 win over Bahrain in Saitama on 20 March 2025.
That victory guaranteed Hajime Moriyasu’s men a place in the top two of Group C in the third round qualifying with three games still to play, with the first- and second-placed teams going through as six of the AFC’s eight qualifiers.
Besides, Japan have reached the round of 16 on four occasions – as co-hosts in 2002, and again in 2010, 2018 and 2022.
They enjoyed a particularly memorable tournament last time in Qatar, emerging from a challenging group which contained Germany, Spain and Costa Rica after dramatic 2-1 victories over the European duo.
However, they were to come unstuck again in the first knockout phase, going down 3-1 on penalties to eventual semi-finalists Croatia following a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
With the likes of Takefusa Kubo, Wataru Endo, Kaoru Mitoma and Ritsu Doan in their ranks, the Samurai Blue will hope to go beyond the round of 16 for the first time.
New Zealand
New Zealand booked their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by overcoming New Caledonia 3-0 in the OFC qualifying final.
The All Whites will compete at the tournament for the third time, having previously qualified for the Spain 1982 and South Africa 2010 editions.
Iran
Iran qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in dramatic fashion, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Group A rivals Uzbekistan in March.
Team Melli became the second team to qualify for the tournament in Asia
Therefore, the Iranians qualified for their fourth successive FIFA World Cup edition.
Argentina
The reigning world champions were the first CONMEBOL team to qualify, and the seventh overall to book their place at the event.
They secured their spot on the 25th of March when Bolivia drew 0-0 with Uruguay. That result meant Argentina were guaranteed to finish in one of South America’s six automatic World Cup qualification spots.
The 2026 edition will be Argentina’s 19th World Cup. Only Germany and Brazil, who were at their 20th and 22nd respectively in Qatar, have participated in more.
Mexico 1970 was the last World Cup finals Argentina missed out on, when they unexpectedly finished bottom of a three-team group behind Bolivia and winners Peru.
Likewise, it remains the only time Argentina, who didn’t take part in the 1938, 1950 and 1954 qualifiers, failed in an attempt to qualify.
Likewise, La Albiceleste will be on the hunt for a fourth title, while they can become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy in what will surely be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan reached their first ever World Cup after securing a top-two finish in the third round of Asian qualifying on the 5th of June.
As a result, they are the first country from Central Asia to make it to the FIFA World Cup.
In a land where soccer was first played more than a century ago, tragedy has struck not just on the pitch but off it as well.
A core group of one of the most talented generations the nation has produced was lost over the skies of modern-day Ukraine in 1979, when a plane carrying the mighty Pakhtakor side was involved in a mid-air collision.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan did not see its national team take part in a World Cup qualifying campaign until 1997. But now, they are off to compete with 47 other nations at the 2026 World Cup.
South Korea
South Korea reached their 11th consecutive FIFA World Cup following a convincing 2-0 victory against 10-man Iraq at Basra International Stadium on the 5th of June.
Korea Republic have featured at every FIFA World Cup since Mexico 1986. Only five nations have a better consecutive appearance record.
Outside of the fairytale run to the last four at the co-hosted edition in 2002, the nation has failed to reach the quarter-finals at any of the other nine tournaments they’ve featured in during this run.
Jordan
Jordan qualified for their first FIFA World Cup on the 5th of June after they defeated Oman 3-0 in Muscat and Iraq lost to Korea Republic.
Eventually, they reached the tournament proper 40 years on from their first ever qualifying campaign.
Australia
Australia secured their place at a sixth successive World Cup on the 10th of June following a comeback 2-1 win against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
Besides, it was the first time the nation secured direction qualification since the 2014 campaign.
Ecuador
A scoreless draw against Peru in Lima in June assured Ecuador of qualification with two matches to spare.
Moreso, it will be a fifth global finals this century for La Tri, who had to wait until 2002 to make their World Cup debut.
More impressive was the fact that their qualification campaign saw them overcome a three-point deduction to secure a top-six finish in the CONMEBOL table.
Also, Moises Caicedo is the face of the Ecuador team, and there will be high hopes of him leading them to the knockout stages for just the second time in their history.
Brazil
Brazil secured qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over Paraguay on the 10th of June.
Therefore, they maintain their remarkable record of featuring at EVERY edition of the World Cup.
Despite their success in always reaching the tournament, the Selecao haven’t won it since 2002 — a long drought for the five‑time champions, who remain the most decorated nation since the World Cup began in 1930.
Uruguay
Legendary coach Marcelo Bielsa guided Uruguay to their fifth successive World Cup following a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Peru on matchday 17.
Therefore, the two-time world champions (1930 & 1950) will participate at their 15th FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Paraguay
For the first time since 2010 Paraguay will participate in the World Cup after securing their spot at next year’s showpiece with a 0-0 draw at home against Ecuador in September.
Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron is the team’s biggest star, and they hope to match what they achieved in 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Spain.
Colombia
After missing out on Qatar 2022, Colombia are back in the World Cup after a 3-0 triumph over Bolivia on the 4th of September.
While James Rodríguez is still the team’s leader, they now also boast of top talents like Bayern Munich’s Luis Diaz, Fenerbache’s Jhon Duran and Wolves’ Jhon Arias.
Furthermore, Los Cafeteros will hope they can go one step further from their best showing in the tournament in 2014, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Morocco
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Morocco made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-final.
Equally, the Atlas Lions, who will host the upcoming 2025 AFCON, became the first team from Africa to reach the 2026 showpiece with an emphatic 5-0 win over Niger in September.
Tunisia
The Carthage Eagles booked their place at the global showpiece with two games to spare in Group H with a dramatic last-gasp win away to Equatorial Guinea in Malabo.
Furthermore, their solid defence ensured that they did not concede a single goal throughout their 10 CAF qualifying matches!!!
Tunisia have played in six World Cup tournaments in total, but have never progressed beyond the group stage.
Hence, they will be out to make the knockouts for the very first time next summer.
Egypt
After missing out on Qatar 2022, Egypt punched their ticket to the global showpiece with a game to spare after posting a 3-0 victory over Djibouti.
Talisman Mohamed Salah led the way as the Pharaohs topped Group A after impressing at both ends during their qualifying campaign.
In 2018, Egypt were eliminated at the group stage after finishing bottom of Group A, losing all three matches they played.
The North Africans have played in three global tournaments in total and have progressed beyond the group stage only once, back in 1934.
The 2026 edition could be Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah’s last appearance at the World Cup and the forward will hope to produce a memorable result for his nation.
Algeria
The Desert Foxes booked their World Cup return for the first time since 2014 after a 3-0 victory away to Somalia in their penultimate Group G clash.
Riyad Mahrez and Co won seven and drew one of their first nine qualifiers to ensure they could not be caught.
Twelve years ago, they reached the last 16, where they were beaten by Germany.
Algeria has played at three other tournaments, being eliminated in the group stages in 1982, 1986, and 2010.
Ghana
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark Ghana’s fifth appearance on football’s biggest stage, having made their debut at Germany 2006.
They will be looking to improve on their performance in Qatar four years ago when they were eliminated in the group stage.
The Black Stars secured their place thanks to their 1-0 victory over Comoros in October to seal top spot in Group I.
Cape Verde
Following in the footsteps of Jordan and Uzbekistan, Cape Verde became the third nation to book a first-ever World Cup appearance in 2026.
The Blue Sharks secured their first appearance at the global finals by topping Group D after being pushed all the way by Cameroon.
Furthermore, they sealed their place with a 3-0 victory over Eswatini.
By doing so, they became the second smallest country by land area (after Curaçao) and the third least populated (after Curaçao and Iceland) to qualify for the World Cup, with a land area of 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi) and a population of just under 525,000.
South Africa
Bafana Bafana sealed their return to the World Cup, ending a 16-year absence.
A 3-0 win over Rwanda on the final day of Group C qualifying took the South Africans past Benin and ensured they finished ahead of Nigeria to secure a guaranteed berth.
Qatar
Goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel sent Qatar to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2022 hosts, who exited that tournament in the group phase, booked their ticket to North America thanks to a 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates in the fourth round in October.
England
England booked their place at an eighth successive World Cup after Thomas Tuchel’s side eased through the UEFA preliminaries and qualified with two games to spare.
A 5-0 victory over Latvia in October sealed their return to the global finals, which will be their first on American soil after missing out on USA 1994.
The Three Lions coasted through to the World Cup finals with a perfect record while not conceding a single goal!
Senegal
The Lions of Teranga qualified for the showpiece after securing first place in Group B of the African qualifiers after a 4-0 victory over Mauritania in their final fixture on the 14th of October ensured they topped the section ahead of Congo DR.
It will be their fourth World Cup appearance.
Côte d’Ivoire
The Elephants secured their place at the World Cup in October with a 3-0 victory over Kenya in their final Group F fixture, ensuring they topped the section ahead of Gabon.
Côte d’Ivoire will return to the global finals for first time since 2014.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia reached a third consecutive World Cup following a goalless draw with Iraq in October.
The Green Falcons, who famously upset Argentina at Qatar 2022, will now look to equal and eclipse their best campaign: a run to the last 16 at USA 1994.
France
Les Bleus were the second European team to secure qualification, claiming top spot in Group F with a 4-0 victory over Ukraine.
The star-studded French team will be led by Kylian Mbappe, who starred in the previous two editions of the competition.
Croatia
Croatia quickly followed in the footsteps of their fellow Russia 2018 finalists, France, by coming from behind to defeat the Faroe Islands 3-1 in Rijeka to rubber-stamp their position atop Group L with a match to spare.
The Croats have reached the semi-finals in the last two World Cup tournaments.
Portugal
Portugal captured the top spot in Group F of UEFA qualifying in style with an emphatic 9-1 win over Armenia on the final matchday to reach their ninth World Cup.
Moreover, it was their seventh edition in succession.
Portugal’s most recent World Cup ended at the quarter-final stage at Qatar 2022, when surprise package Morocco became the first African nation to reach the last four of the tournament.
Their first appearance was in 1966, where they achieved their best ever result: a third-place finish.
Norway
Norway are back in the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after finishing in first place in Group I of UEFA qualifying.
They sealed their place with an impressive 4-1 win over Italy in Milan on the final matchday.
The Norwegians won’t lack for confidence after a qualifying campaign that brought eight wins from eight games and 37 goals.
Also, Erling Haaland scored 16 of those and will be Norway’s main threat.
However, there are plenty of other talented players in their squad as they can call upon the likes of Martin Odegaard, Oscar Bobb, Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth.
Germany
Germany booked their place at a 19th straight World Cup with a 6-0 victory over Slovakia on the 17th of November to top Group A in UEFA qualifying.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann will be looking to restore the Germans’ reputation after back-to-back group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.
Netherlands
The Dutch wrapped up their World Cup qualification with a decisive 4-0 victory over Lithuania in Amsterdam on the 17th of November to top Group G and seal their place in the global finals.
Likewise, Ronald Koeman’s side enjoyed an unbeaten run in qualifying as the Netherlands qualified for their 12th World Cup.
Austria
Austria were one of five European teams to secure their ticket to the World Cup on the 18th of November after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina saw them top Group H.
They are back on the world stage for the first time since 1998.
Belgium
Belgium booked their FIFA World Cup return in style as they brushed aside Liechtenstein 7-0 to top Group J with a goal-fest in Liege in their final qualifier, having missed the chance to punch their ticket days earlier after a surprise 1-1 draw with Kazakhstan.
Scotland
Scotland secured their first World Cup return since 1998 in the most dramatic fashion possible.
They ended their 28-year absence at the global mundial by defeating Denmark 4-2 in their final qualifier thanks to two goals in added time.
Hence, the Scots leapfrogged the Danes at the top of Group C and sent Hampden Park into raptures.
Spain
Spain, who won the title at South Africa 2010 and are reigning European champions, were taken to the final day of Group E by Türkiye, but knew only a heavy defeat would have prevented them from qualifying.
They fought back to draw 2-2 in Seville, booking their place at a 17th tournament, and 13th in succession.
Switzerland
Switzerland’s 1-1 draw in Kosovo confirmed the nation’s sixth successive appearance at the FIFA World Cup.
The Swiss enjoyed an exceptional qualification campaign and the draw in their final qualifier maintained their unbeaten record in Group B.
Curaçao
Curacao, with its population of just 156,115, became the smallest nation to ever qualify for the FIFA World Cup after securing a draw with Jamaica on the final matchday to win Group B in CONCACAF.
The Blue Wave will be led in 2026 by former Manchester United youth product Tahith Chong.
Haiti
Haiti clinched the top spot in Group C to secure World Cup qualification for the first time since 1974 (51 years).
The Caribbean island sealed their return to the tournament with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua, coupled with a goalless draw between Honduras and Costa Rica.
Panama
Panama are back at the World Cup after missing the tournament in 2022 as they topped CONCACAF Group A ahead of Suriname.
Los Canaleros are heading to their second World Cup after powering to a 3-0 win against El Salvador on the final matchday of Concacaf qualifying.
Qualification Play-offs for the remaining slots
UEFA play-off
UEFA has 16 direct slots to the 48-team tournament. The group winners will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the runners-up will participate in play-off matches.
Also, the UEFA play-offs, will be contested by sixteen teams from the UEFA segment of qualifying.
The play-offs will determine the final four European teams that will join the twelve group winners at the World Cup.
Furthermore, the twelve runners-up from the UEFA first round groups will participate in the play-offs, along with four teams based on the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking.
The teams were divided into four paths, each containing four teams, with each play-off path featuring two single-leg semi-finals and one single-leg final. The twelve matches will take place in March 2026.
Semi-finals (26 March 2026)
Path A
SF1: Italy vs Northern Ireland
SF2: Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Path B
SF3: Ukraine vs Sweden
SF4: Poland vs Albania
Path C
SF5: Türkiye vs Romania
SF6: Slovakia vs Kosovo
Path D
SF7: Denmark vs North Macedonia
SF8: Czechia vs Republic of Ireland
Finals (31 March 2026)
Path A: Wales / Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy / Northern Ireland
Path B: Ukraine / Sweden vs Poland / Albania
Path C: Slovakia / Kosovo vs Türkiye / Romania
Path D: Czechia / Republic of Ireland vs Denmark / North Macedonia.
Intercontinental Play-offs
A play-off tournament involving six teams – one each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC and two from CONCACAF – will be held to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths.
The bottom four teams in the FIFA World Rankings will be drawn into two single-elimination matches.
Therefore, the winners of those matches will advance to play the top two teams in two single-elimination matches, and the winners will qualify for the World Cup.
Semi-final 1: New Caledonia vs. Jamaica
Semi-final 2: Bolivia vs. Suriname
Final 1: New Caledonia or Jamaica vs. DR Congo
Final 2: Bolivia or Suriname vs. Iraq
The play-offs will be held in March 2026 in Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico.
Match Rules
All matches will be single-leg knockout games. If scores are level after normal time, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, during which each team will be permitted a sixth substitution. Should scores remain tied, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winner.
Additionally, on entering the preliminary competition or the play-off tournament, participating teams are required to field only one senior national team.
Did you know?
Eritrea withdrew from qualification on the 10th of November 2023, prior to playing any matches, due to concerns that players would seek political asylum if allowed to travel overseas!!!
Russia were suspended indefinitely on the 28th of February 2022 from participating in UEFA and FIFA competitions due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
