29 Nations Secure Spots in Expanded 2026 World Cup
As of November 14, 2025, 29 countries have officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a significant milestone ahead of the tournament’s debut in a three-nation format.The expanded competition, featuring 48 teams-up from 32-promises a broader stage for international football and a revised structure with 12 groups of four. This qualification surge sets the stage for a final push as remaining spots are resolute through concluding qualifiers and intercontinental play-offs.
The 23rd edition of the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will utilize a unique knockout stage format. Following the group phase, the top two teams from each group will advance, alongside the eight highest-ranked third-place finishers, creating a 32-team round of 16. Currently, 29 nations have punched their tickets, representing a diverse range of footballing prowess across six confederations.
Here’s a breakdown of the qualified teams, as of november 14, 2025:
Host Nations: Canada, Mexico, United States
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Europe: England, France
Oceania: New Zealand
The remaining qualification pathways will unfold with the completion of ongoing qualifying campaigns and subsequent play-off matches, ultimately determining the final roster of 48 competing nations. the tournament is scheduled to begin in June 2026.
