A total of forty-eight (48) teams have clinched their tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026 scheduled to be hosted in three (3) countries – the United States of America (USA), Canada and Mexico – from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Final 26-man World Cup sqauds must be submitted before May 30, 2026.
In March, the final six (6) spots were decided with four (4) teams from Europe making it through the Uefa Play-offs. The teams are: Sweden, Turkey, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Czech Republic. The other two (2) spots were taken by Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Iraq.
Both DR Congo and Iraq qualified through Intercontinental Play-offs – the Leopards, who saw off Jamaica by a lone goal ended their fifty-two (52)-year wait with their qualification, while, Iraq, who discomfited Bolivia in the Play-off, returned to the tournament for the first time in forty (40) years.
Curacao, a Caribbean Island, emerged the smallest country to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the biggest yet, with a whopping forty-eight (48) teams contesting, sixteen (16) more than the FIFA World Cup 2022 hosted in Qatar.
Teams that have qualified for World Cup 2026
These are the nations that will be fighting for the prestigious World Cup trophy.
Host Nations
1. United States of America (USA)
2. Canada
3. Mexico
Asia
4. Australia
5. Iran
6. Japan
7. Jordan
8. Qatar
9. Saudi Arabia
10. South Korea
11. Uzbekistan
12. Iraq
North and Central America (Non-Hosts)
13. Curacao
14. Haiti
15. Panama
Oceania
16. New Zealand
South America
17. Argentina (Holders)
18. Brazil
19. Colombia
20. Ecuador
21. Paraguay
22. Uruguay
Africa
23. Algeria
24. Cape Verde
25. Egypt
26. Ghana
27. Ivory Coast
28. Morocco
29. Senegal
30. South Africa
31. Tunisia
32. DR Congo
Europe
33. Austria
34. Belgium
35. Croatia
36. England
37. France
38. Germany
39. Netherlands
40. Norway
41. Portugal
42. Scotland
43. Spain
44. Switzerland
45. Sweden
46. Turkey
47. Czech Republic
48. Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Cup 2026 Groups
Group A: Mexico, Czech Republic, South Africa, South Korea
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland
Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey
Group E: Curacao, Ecuador, Germany Ivory Coast
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uruguay
Group I: France, Norway, Senegal, Iraq
Group J: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Colombia, Jamaica, Portugal, Uzbekistan
Group L: Croatia, England, Ghana, Panama
World Cup 2026 match schedule and draw
The full match schedule for the World Cup 2026 was released following the draw, with the opening game held in Mexico City.
The Final will take place at the New York-New Jersey (MetLife) Stadium. The venue is the home ground of the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Group Stage: June 11-27
Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
Round of 16: July 4-7
Quarter Finals: July 9-11
Semi Finals: July 14-15
Third Place (Bronze): July 18
Final: July 19
Photo: World Cup trophy
