The journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up as 28 Qualified Teams have now sealed their spots in the expanded 48-team tournament, set to take place across United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among the confirmed contenders are footballing giants like Argentina, Brazil, England, and emerging debutants Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, and Jordan — marking a historic mix of established and rising national teams.
With just weeks to go before the tournament, fans are already looking at group stage prospects, team strategies, and matchday atmospheres with heightened expectations ahead of the June 11 kickoff.
From June 11 to July 19, 2026, these teams will battle for glory in North America’s biggest-ever World Cup. Here’s the complete list of qualified teams as of October 15, 2025, along with insights into their paths and what’s at stake.
28 Qualified Teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, the first to feature 48 teams, includes automatic qualifiers (the three hosts) and teams that battled through intense confederation campaigns.
Below is the full list of the 28 teams confirmed as of today, organized by confederation:
| Confederation | Team | Qualification Method | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONCACAF | Canada | Automatic (Host) | First time hosting men’s World Cup |
| Mexico | Automatic (Host) | First nation to host World Cup three times | |
| United States | Automatic (Host) | Second time hosting (1994) | |
| CAF (Africa) | Algeria | Group G Winner | Qualified with 3-0 win over Somalia |
| Cape Verde | Group D Winner | First-ever World Cup qualification | |
| Egypt | Group A Winner | Sealed with Mohamed Salah’s brace vs Djibouti | |
| Ghana | Group I Winner | 1-0 win over Comoros clinched berth | |
| Ivory Coast | Group F Winner | 3-0 victory over Kenya | |
| Morocco | Group E Winner | Reached 2022 World Cup semifinals | |
| Senegal | Group B Winner | 4-0 rout of Mauritania | |
| South Africa | Group C Winner | Overcame Nigeria in dramatic group race | |
| Tunisia | Group H Winner | Unbeaten in qualifying campaign | |
| AFC (Asia) | Australia | Third Round Group Winner | Sixth consecutive World Cup |
| Iran | Third Round Group Winner | Seventh World Cup appearance | |
| Japan | Third Round Group Winner | First to qualify (March 20, 2025) | |
| Jordan | Third Round Group Winner | First-ever World Cup qualification | |
| Qatar | Fourth Round Win vs UAE | First qualification (2022 as hosts) | |
| Saudi Arabia | Fourth Round Win vs Iraq | Seventh World Cup appearance | |
| South Korea | Third Round Group Winner | 11th consecutive World Cup | |
| Uzbekistan | Third Round Draw vs UAE | First-ever World Cup qualification | |
| CONMEBOL (South America) | Argentina | Top 6 Finish | Defending 2022 champions |
| Brazil | Top 6 Finish | Only nation to play every World Cup | |
| Colombia | Top 6 Finish | Seventh World Cup appearance | |
| Ecuador | Top 6 Finish | Despite 3-point deduction | |
| Paraguay | Top 6 Finish | Eighth World Cup appearance | |
| Uruguay | Top 6 Finish | 14th World Cup appearance | |
| OFC (Oceania) | New Zealand | Qualifying Tournament Winner | Third World Cup appearance |
| UEFA (Europe) | England | Group K Winner | Clinched with 5-0 win over Latvia |
Qualification Breakdown by Confederation
- CONCACAF (3/6): Hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States secured automatic berths. Three more spots are up for grabs, with 12 teams (including Costa Rica, Honduras, and Haiti) competing in the third round until November 18, 2025.
- CAF (9/9): Africa’s nine group winners are locked in, with Cape Verde making their debut. Four runners-up (Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon, Nigeria) will vie for a playoff spot in Morocco.
- AFC (8/8): Asia’s eight direct slots are filled, with Jordan and Uzbekistan as first-timers. Iraq and UAE will battle for the inter-confederation playoff spot in November.
- CONMEBOL (6/6): South America’s marathon round-robin saw Argentina lead the pack, while Bolivia earned a playoff spot. Chile and Peru were notable eliminations.
- OFC (1/1): New Zealand claimed Oceania’s guaranteed slot, with New Caledonia headed to the inter-confederation playoffs.
- UEFA (1/16): England is the first European qualifier, with 15 spots remaining. UEFA’s group stage wraps in November, with playoffs in March 2026.
What’s Next? The Road to 48 Teams
With 28 teams confirmed, 20 spots remain. Europe’s qualifiers, including powerhouses like Spain and France, continue through November, with playoffs in March 2026.
CONCACAF’s final three automatic spots will be decided by November 18, with two teams advancing to the inter-confederation playoffs alongside New Caledonia, Bolivia, and African/Asian contenders. The final draw is set for December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Why This World Cup is Historic
The 2026 edition, hosted across 16 cities, marks the first 48-team World Cup, with 104 matches culminating at MetLife Stadium on July 19. Debutants like Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan add fresh narratives, while heavyweights like Brazil and Argentina aim to dominate. Which team are you backing?