Who is in and who might qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

We are now more than a year away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with qualification gaining momentum. Although the complete list of the 48 participating teams has yet to be finalized, we do have information on those who are confirmed and those still vying for spots. Let’s delve into the details!

What we know:

48 teams will compete in the World Cup;
46 teams will qualify automatically; the remaining two slots will be filled through the six-team intercontinental playoff;
Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, and the United States are confirmed participants;
Argentina secured their spot through the South American (CONMEBOL) qualification;
Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan qualified through the Asian (AFC) confederation;
New Zealand earned their position via the Oceania (OFC).

Confirmed Teams (in alphabetical order, with history of World Cup appearances):

Argentina (18 appearances)
Canada (2 appearances)
Iran (6 appearances)
Japan (7 appearances)
Jordan (first-time participants in 2026)
Mexico (17 appearances)
New Zealand (2 appearances)
South Korea (11 appearances)
United States (11 appearances)
Uzbekistan (first-time participants in 2026)

What’s at stake this week:

Asia (AFC) – Five nations have earned their spots, including prominent teams like Iran, Japan, and South Korea. Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their historic first appearances next year. Australia is close to securing their place if they avoid significant losses to Saudi Arabia.

South America (CONMEBOL) – Who will accompany Argentina? Ecuador is on the verge of qualifying, while top teams like Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay still have remaining challenges.

Europe (UEFA) – No teams will qualify this time due to competing in the UEFA Nations League finals. Noteworthy teams like Spain, France, Germany, and Portugal are still set to embark on qualifying from this week onward.

North America/Central America/Caribbean (CONCACAF) – With the three co-hosts confirmed, the second stage of qualifying is ongoing. Look for teams like Costa Rica, Honduras, and Jamaica to maintain their chances.

Africa (CAF) – No teams will qualify this window as they were not active in June. Egypt leads its qualifying group, alongside other contenders like Morocco and Senegal.

Oceania (OFA) – This region has concluded their tournament, with New Zealand already qualified. The small island of New Caledonia still has the chance to compete in the intercontinental playoffs.

Playoffs Explained:

Two more spots will be available through playoffs in March 2026, featuring six teams, with Europe (UEFA) excluded.

1 from Africa (TBD)
1 from Asia (TBD)
2 from North America/Central America/Caribbean (TBD)
1 from Oceania (New Caledonia)
1 from South America (TBD)

The top two FIFA-ranked teams will automatically enter the finals. The remaining four teams will compete for the last two spots for the World Cup.

Regional Insights:

AFC (Asia)

How many teams can qualify? 8 automatically, 1 playoff entry
Current qualifiers: Iran, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan

The Asian qualifying tournament began in October 2023, now in Round 3 with 18 teams remaining across three groups. In Group A, Iran and Uzbekistan are already qualified. Group B has South Korea and Jordan in, while Iraq, Oman, and Palestine still aim to progress. In Group C, Japan has also qualified while Australia’s position depends on their matchup against Saudi Arabia.

CAF (Africa)

How many teams qualify? 9 automatically, 1 playoff entry
Current qualifiers: None yet
Returning to play in September.

The top group finishers will directly reach the World Cup, with the top second place contenders fighting for playoff qualifications.

CONCACAF (North & Central America)

Qualifying teams: Canada, Mexico, United States
Three spots remaining, with two playoff places still to be filled.

CONMEBOL (South America)

Confirmations: Argentina, with Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, and Colombia still vying for spots.

OFC (Oceania)

Qualified Teams: New Zealand, New Caledonia (for playoffs)

UEFA (Europe)

Qualifying capacity: 16 teams (12 direct, 4 through playoffs)
54 teams involved currently, without any confirmed qualifications yet.

For more specific match timings and details, please visit individual sections according to each qualifying round.