The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup is approaching quickly, with most teams having qualified. The draw for the tournament will clarify the path for many of these teams.
This tournament is notable for its 48-team format, expanded from the previous 32, which started in 1998. The World Cup will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, starting on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and concluding on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York City.
Due to the expansion, Europe secures 16 slots out of 48, while the African confederation (CAF) has nine, and Asia (AFC) eight. There will be at least six from both South America (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf). Additionally, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will have one guaranteed spot, with the remaining two to be decided through intercontinental playoffs.
Four teams will be making their first appearance at the World Cup: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cabo Verde, and Curacao, with the latter being the smallest nation ever to qualify with a population of 185,494.
Already Qualified for the 2026 World Cup
Spots clinched: 42/48
World Cup Hosts
- United States
- Mexico
- Canada
AFC Qualifiers
- Iran
- Uzbekistan
- South Korea
- Jordan
- Australia
- Japan
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
Concacaf Qualifiers
- Haiti
- Curacao
- Panama
OFC Qualifier
- New Zealand
CONMEBOL Qualifiers
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Ecuador
- Colombia
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
CAF Qualifiers
- Morocco
- Egypt
- Tunisia
- Ghana
- Cabo Verde
- Algeria
- South Africa
- Senegal
- Ivory Coast
UEFA Qualifiers
- England
- France
- Croatia
- Portugal
- Norway
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Scotland
- Spain
- Austria
- Belgium
Chaos in UEFA
Teams like England, Portugal, France, and Croatia have qualified directly from their groups. However, teams that finish second will enter playoffs, and teams such as Italy risk missing out on the third World Cup in a row. There will be 12 second-placed teams bolstered by four top UEFA Nations League group winners.
This second round involves 16 teams split into four paths for single-elimination matches leading to a playoff with the four overall winners gaining entry to the World Cup. There will be no UEFA teams in inter-confederation playoffs, which will wrap up only by March 2026.
Questions on the Inter-Confederation Playoffs
Final World Cup participants won’t be confirmed until March 2026 when playoffs featuring teams from various regions will occur to secure the last two spots.
Currently participating in inter-confederation playoffs are:
- Bolivia
- DR Congo
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- New Caledonia
- Suriname
When is the World Cup Draw?
The draw will be held on December 5 in a ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Teams will learn their respective groups during this, though the final participants will still be determined.
