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Sports Illustrated

Sport

Max Mallow

Who Has Qualified for 2026 World Cup? Ten More Nations Book Spots in October

World Cup Brazil FIFA World Cup Mexico Canada World Cup 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup field is taking shape as the United States, Canada and Mexico prepare to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

The World Cup returns to the United States for the first time since 1994. The USMNT, Canadian and Mexican national teams were all invited to the tournament as host nations. The three co-host nations will be joined by 45 other qualifying countries making up a 48-team field for the first time in the competition’s history.

Here is a full breakdown of which teams have qualified and who can still make it.

Which Countries Have Qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

Japan became the first country outside of the host nations to qualify for the tournament, booking their ticket all the way back in March. They were joined by New Zealand, Iran and defending world champions Argentina later in the month, with La Albiceleste blitzing the competition in qualifying.

The June international period saw six more nations qualify, including World Cup debutants Uzbekistan and Jordan from the AFC. Competition regulars South Korea and Australia also confirmed their place from the AFC, while five-time world champions Brazil secured their spot alongside fellow South Americans Ecuador.

Three more CONMEBOL sides were confirmed in September as the first ever world champions Uruguay were joined by Colombia and Paraguay. The first African representatives at next summer’s tournament were also confirmed, with Morocco, who reached the semifinals in 2022, and Tunisia qualifying.

A healthy band of countries added their name to the growing list of qualifiers in October, including former world champions England who became the first UEFA nation to make the tournament. There will be a debut for Cape Verde at the tournament, who are joined by Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, South Africa, Ivory Coast and Senegal from CAF. 2022 competition hosts Qatar and 2034 hosts Saudi Arabia also qualified in October.

As things stand, there are only 20 places still up for grabs.

World Cup 2026: Every Country to Qualify

Here's the list of every country qualified or invited to the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

World Cup 2026 Qualification Breakdown

Which Nations Can Still Qualify?

France are yet to qualify but will make the tournament with little fuss. | Franco Arland/Getty Images

Of course, there a huge number of UEFA nations still to be confirmed at next summer’s tournament. With England the only qualifiers to date, 15 more countries form Europe will be traveling to North America, with the likes of Spain, France, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands among the big-hitters still navigating qualification.

The bulk of AFC qualification has been completed, with just the play-off between United Arab Emirates and Iraq to come. The winner of the two-legged tie in November will confirm their place in the inter-confederation play-offs.

The first round of CAF qualification has been completed, with the second round contested by four nations competing for a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs. Gabon, Nigeria, DR Congo and Cameroon all failed to qualify directly for the tournament, but have another route via the second round play-offs.

Three CONCACAF slots have been taken up by the host nations, meaning just three remain for nations via qualifying. The likes of Jamaica, Honduras and Costa Rica are among the front-runners to reach the tournament automatically, although there will also be a place up for grabs in the inter-confederation play-offs.

CONMEBOL qualifying concluded in September, with six teams booking a direct place in the World Cup. For seventh-placed Bolivia, they will be forced to compete in the inter-confederation play-off,

New Zealand are the only OFC team guaranteed to play at the World Cup, but New Caledonia will compete in the inter-confederation play-off as well. They will be enormous underdogs against Bolivia and one undetermined nation from both the AFC and CAF.