The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun, with teams from around the world vying for a spot in the expanded 48-team tournament. While some teams have already secured their place, there are still plenty of spots up for grabs, particularly in UEFA and CONCACAF.
This edition of the World Cup will be the first since FIFA increased the number of teams, providing more opportunities for countries from all six confederations to qualify. The tournament will be hosted in North America, adding to the excitement of the event.
Each confederation has been allocated a set number of spots, with UEFA leading the way with 16 spots. CAF and AFC follow with nine and eight spots, respectively. CONCACAF and CONMEBOL each have six spots, while OFC has one spot.
The final two spots will be decided through a Play-off Tournament, with six teams competing for a chance to make it to the World Cup. Two teams from CONCACAF, and one each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC will battle it out for the coveted spots.
As the qualification process unfolds, follow along to see which teams will make it to the 2026 World Cup. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico have already secured automatic qualifying bids as the host countries. Additionally, UEFA, AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC are also in the process of determining their representatives for the tournament.
In UEFA, England, France, and Croatia have already secured their spots, with 14 more direct qualifying spots up for grabs. AFC has seen Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan qualify, with one play-off spot remaining.
CAF has narrowed down its qualifiers to Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia, with one play-off spot still to be determined. CONMEBOL’s top six teams – Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay – have qualified, with Bolivia securing a play-off spot.
OFC will be represented by New Zealand at the World Cup, with New Caledonia competing for a play-off spot. The excitement is building as teams from around the world vie for a chance to compete on the biggest stage in international football.