28 Nations Secure Spots in Expanded 2026 World Cup
As of October 12, 2023, 28 of the 48 teams slated to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have officially qualified. This marks a significant milestone in the lead-up to the first tournament to feature an expanded format,co-hosted by the United States,Canada,and mexico. The increase from the traditional 32-team field represents a major shift in global soccer,offering more nations a pathway to the sport’s premier international competition.
The qualification process, which began in June 2022, is unfolding across six confederations: Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North and central America and the caribbean (CONCACAF), South America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC), and Europe (UEFA). The expanded format allocates a specific number of slots to each confederation, based on FIFA rankings and competitive balance.This broadened participation aims to foster greater global progress of the game and provide opportunities for emerging soccer nations.
Here’s a breakdown of the qualified teams as of today:
CONMEBOL (6 slots): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela
AFC (8 slots): Qatar (host), Iran, Iraq, Japan, Saudi arabia, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia
CAF (9 slots): Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Cape Verde, South Africa
CONCACAF (6 slots): canada, Mexico (co-host), United States (co-host), panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic
OFC (1 slot): New Zealand
UEFA (16 slots): England, France, spain, Belgium, Portugal, croatia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Albania, Scotland, Serbia, slovenia, Czech Republic, Austria.
Qualification continues through 2025, with remaining spots persistent by confederation-specific playoffs and final qualifying rounds. The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026, with the final match taking place on July 19, 2026.
