Who Has Qualified for 2026 World Cup? Brazil Extend Historic Record

The FIFA World Cup Trophy. | IMAGO/ULMER Pressebildagentur

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.

Japan was the first country to qualify for the tournament on Mar. 20 when they defeated Bahrain in Asian Football Confederation play. Their victory confirmed their position among two guaranteed qualification spots in their Asian qualifier group.

We have the first non-host country to qualify for the World Cup! 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/4i5fKXAXG4
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 20, 2025

New Zealand were the next team to join the World Cup party by confirming their spot as Oceania champions with victory over New Caledonia in March 2025.

Argentina became the sixth team to qualify for the tournament in 2026. Even better, they did so before their last qualifier match of March. Uruguay managed a 0–0 draw with Bolivia on Mar. 25 ahead of Argentina's game against Brazil, securing La Albiceleste's spot in the World Cup. Lionel Messi will defend his country's status as the best team in the world in what could be his final international tournament in the iconic white and blue.

Iran confirmed their place after a 2-2 tie with Uzbekistan, with the latter then securing surprise qualification for the first time in their history. Fellow AFC side Jordan will also feature at their first World Cup next summer, while South Korea joined the party after their 2–0 win over Iraq in June.

Brazil booked their spot in the 2026 tournament with a victory over Paraguay on June 10 to maintain their illustrious record as the only nation to ever feature in every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1930. Carlo Ancelotti's men were soon joined by Ecuador and Australia also secured passage to their sixth successive World Cup.