EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Look ahead to the global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the United States with details on the teams who have booked their ticket to the tournament.
FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualified teams
Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA AFC: Australia, Iraq, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay OFC: New Zealand UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye (48 of 48 teams).
Qualification places
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 teams qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026
Canada
Canada complete the trio of hosts and the tournament will be the first time that the Maple Leafs have ever reached back-to-back tournaments. Their only previous visits to 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, meaning El Tri have hosted the event more times than any other country.
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 ’70 and ’86.
USA
As co-hosts, USA have automatically qualified for a second consecutive World Cup and will be looking to better their Round of 16 performance at Qatar 2022.
It will be the States’ 12th World Cup and their second on home soil after USA ’94, with their 1930 run to the semi-finals the nation’s best showing at the tournament to date.
Japan
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.
New Zealand
New Zealand booked their spot at the 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 1982 and 2010 editions.
IR Iran
Team Melli made it through in dramatic fashion, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Group A rivals Uzbekistanon 25 March. In doing so, the Iranians qualified their fourth successive FIFA World Cup edition.
Argentina
The reigning world champions were the first CONMEBOL team to qualify. They secured their spot on 25 March when 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.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan reached their first World Cup after securing a top-two finish in the third round of Asian qualifying on 5 June.
Korea Republic
Korea Republic reached their 11th consecutive World Cup following a convincing 2-0 victory against 10-man Iraq at Basra International Stadium on 5 June.
Jordan
Jordan qualified for their first World Cup on 5 June after they defeated Oman 3-0 in Muscat and Iraq lost to Korea Republic.
Australia
Australia secured their place at a sixth successive World Cup on 10 June following a comeback 2-1 win against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. It was the first time the nation secured direction qualification since the 2014 campaign.
Ecuador
A scoreless draw against Peru in Lima on 10 June assured Ecuador of qualification with two matches to spare. It will be a fifth global finals this century for La Tri.
Brazil
New coach Carlo Ancelotti led Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay on 10 June. That will maintain the nation’s remarkable record of having feature at every edition of the World Cup.
Uruguay
Marcelo Bielsa guided Uruguay to their fifth successive World Cup following a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Peru on matchday 17.
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 on 4 September.
Colombia
After missing out on Qatar 2022, Colombia are back in the World Cup with talisman James Rodriguez leading his side to a 3-0 triumph over Bolivia on 4 September.
Morocco
The Atlas Lions, who made history for Africa at Qatar 2022, became the first team from the Mother Continent to reach the 2026 showpiece with an emphatic 5-0 win over Niger on 5 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, with their defence having not been breached in their first eight CAF qualifying matches.
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 lead the way as the Pharaohs topped Group A after impressing at both ends during their qualifying campaign.
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.
Ghana
This World Cup will mark Ghana’s fifth appearance on football’s biggest stage, having made their debut at Germany 2006. They will be looking 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 on 12 October to seal top spot in Group I.
Cabo Verde
The Blue Sharks secured their first appearance at the global finals by topping Group D after being pushed all the way by Cameroon. They sealed their place with a 3-0 victory over Eswatini. A country of just over 500,000 people, Cabo Verde have become the second-least populous nation to reach the World Cup, after Iceland at Russia 2018.
South Africa
Bafana Bafana sealed their return to the World Cup, ending a 16-year absence, on 14 October 2025. 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
Akram Afif set up headers for Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel to send Qatar to World Cup 2026. 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 on 14 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 Riga on 14 October sealed their return to the global finals, which will be their first on American soil after missing out on USA 1994.
Senegal
The Lions of Teranga qualified for the showpiece after securing first place in Group B of the African preliminaries after a 4-0 victory over Mauritania in their final fixture on 14 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 on 14 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 on 14 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 on an emotional night at the Parc des Princes, where Kylian Mbappe scored twice.
Croatia
Croatia quickly followed in the footsteps of their fellow Russia 2018 finalists, 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.
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.
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 the deal thanks to an impressive 4-1 win over Italy in Milan on the final matchday.
Germany
Germany booked their place at a 19th straight World Cup with a 6-0 victory over Slovakia on 17 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 17 November to top Group G and seal their place in the global finals. 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 18 November and can now start planning their trip to Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina saw them top Group H.
Belgium
Belgium booked their 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, defeating Denmark 4-2 in their final qualifier thanks to two goals in added time to leapfrog the Danes at the top of Group C and send 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 that match 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 global finals. The Swiss enjoyed an exceptional qualification campaign and the draw in their final qualifier maintained their unbeaten record in Group B.
Curaçao
Curaçao will be featuring at the World Cup for the first time by virtue of their first-place finish in Group B. The Blue Wave punched their ticket after earning a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Jamaica.
Haiti
Haiti are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 after clinching the top spot in Group C. The Caribbean island sealed their passage with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua, coupled with a goalless draw between Honduras and Costa Rica.
Panama
Panama are heading to their second World Cup after powering to a 3-0 win against El Salvador on the final matchday of Concacaf qualifying. Los Canaleros finished atop Group A to reach the global showpiece.
Sweden
Sweden ended an eight-year absence from the World Cup after edging Poland 3-2 in the Path B European play-off final, a victory sealed by a late Viktor Gyokeres strike. After struggling through UEFA qualifying, Englishman Graham Potter came in to successfully bring the Scandinavians back to the global stage.
Türkiye
Türkiye are back in the World Cup for the first time since 2002 after Kerem Akturkoglu sealed a narrow victory over Kosovo in the European play-offs. After finishing second to Spain in UEFA qualifying, Vincenzo Montella sealed the Turks’ emotional return with narrow victories over Romania and Kosovo.
Czechia
Czechia needed a penalty shootout to punch their ticket to the World Cup, defeating Denmark 3-1 on spot kicks after a drama-filled 2-2 draw in the UEFA play-offs. The Czechs are back in the World Cup for the first time since Germany 2006.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina sealed their second appearance on the global stage by knocking out Italy in a penalty shootout in the European play-offs. Haris Tabakovic scored a late leveller in a 1-1 draw before the Bosnians sent shockwaves by defeating the four-time champions Italy on penalties.
Congo DR
Congo DR secured their second appearance at the World Cup by defeating Jamaica in the Play-Off Tournament Path A final, thanks to Axel Tuanzebe’s dramatic effort in extra time. It is the Africans’ first appearance on the global stage since they competed as Zaire in 1974.
Iraq
The Lions of Mesopotamia are back on the global stage for the first time in 40 years, after they saw off Bolivia 2-1 in the final of the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. Goals early in either half from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein eased Graham Arnold’s side to victory in Monterrey.
Information and Photos Courtesy of FIFA
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