The World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA is now just a matter of months away – and it’s going to be the biggest World Cup yet, with the tournament expanding from 32 teams to 48.
We already know 42 of the 48 nations taking part*; the UEFA and inter-confederation play-off finals in the week commencing 30 March will determine the rest.
Here’s your essential guide to who’s booked their place at the World Cup 2026 and who could still join the party.
Which Countries Have Qualified for the World Cup 2026?
With the three host nations, Canada, Mexico and the USA, qualifying automatically, there were 45 World Cup 2026 spots up for grabs.
Japan were the first non-host country to qualify, booking their place in March last year – as did New Zealand, Iran and holders Argentina.
Four sides have qualified for the World Cup for the very first time: Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Curacao – the latter became the smallest nation both in terms of population and area ever to reach the finals.
Meanwhile, five-time winners Brazil continue their record of being the only country to appear at every World Cup.
Here is the full list of nations qualified for the World Cup 2026, broken down by confederation:
UEFA
Country | Number of previous appearances | Last appearance | Previous best performance |
Austria | 7 | 1998 | 3rd (1954) |
Belgium | 14 | 2022 | 3rd (2018) |
Croatia | 6 | 2022 | Runners-up (2018) |
England | 16 | 2022 | Winners (1966) |
France | 16 | 2022 | Winners (1998, 2018) |
Germany | 20 | 2022 | Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2018) |
Netherlands | 11 | 2022 | Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010) |
Norway | 3 | 1998 | Last 16 (1998) |
Portugal | 8 | 2022 | 3rd (1966) |
Scotland | 8 | 1998 | Group stage (1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998) |
Spain | 16 | 2022 | Winners (2010) |
Switzerland | 12 | 2022 | Quarter-finals (1934, 1938, 1954) |
CONMEBOL
Country | Number of previous appearances | Last appearance | Previous best performance |
Argentina | 18 | 2022 | Winners (1978, 1986, 2022) |
Brazil | 22 | 2022 | Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) |
Colombia | 6 | 2018 | Quarter-finals (2014) |
Ecuador | 4 | 2022 | Last 16 (2014) |
Paraguay | 8 | 2010 | Quarter-finals (2010) |
Uruguay | 14 | 2022 | Winners (1930, 1950) |
CAF
Country | Number of previous appearances | Last appearance | Previous best |
Algeria | 4 | 2014 | Last 16 (2014) |
Cape Verde | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Egypt | 3 | 2018 | First round (1930), group stage (1990, 2018) |
Ghana | 4 | 2022 | Quarter-finals (2010) |
Ivory Coast | 3 | 2014 | Group Stage (2006, 2010, 2014) |
Morocco | 6 | 2022 | 4th (2022) |
Senegal | 3 | 2022 | Quarter-finals (2002) |
South Africa | 3 | 2010 | Group stage (1998, 2002, 2010) |
Tunisia | 6 | 2022 | Group stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022) |
AFC
Country | Number of previous appearances | Last appearance | Previous best performance |
Australia | 6 | 2022 | Last 16 (2006, 2022) |
Iran* | 6 | 2022 | Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) |
Japan | 7 | 2022 | Last 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) |
Jordan | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Qatar | 1 | 2022 | Group stage (2022) |
Saudi Arabia | 6 | 2022 | Last 16 (1994) |
South Korea | 11 | 2022 | 4th (2002) |
Uzbekistan | N/A | N/A | N/A |
CONCACAF
Country | Number of previous appearances | Last appearance | Previous best performance |
Canada | 2 | 2022 | Group stage (1986, 2022) |
Curacao | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Haiti | 1 | 1974 | Group stage (1974) |
Mexico | 17 | 2022 | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
Panama | 1 | 2018 | Group stage (2018) |
USA | 11 | 2022 | 3rd (1930) |
OFC
Country | Number of previous appearances | Last appearance | Previous best performance |
New Zealand | 2 | 2010 | Group stage (1982, 2010) |
Which Countries Could Still Qualify for the World Cup 2026?
Twelve countries are still in the hunt for World Cup 2026 qualification, with the final six qualifiers to be known by 1 April.
Eight of those 12 nations will take part in the UEFA play-off finals, with the other four competing in the inter-confederation play-off finals in Mexico. Here’s how it all works:
UEFA Play-offs
The UEFA play-offs were split into four paths, with the winners of each pair of semi-finals progressing to their path’s final, the winner of which will qualify for the World Cup 2026. Kosovo are the sole country involved who have never previously qualified for the World Cup.
Path A final
Bosnia and Herzeogivna vs Italy
Path B final
Sweden vs Poland
Path C final
Kosovo vs Turkiye
Path D final
Czech Republic vs Denmark
Inter-confederation Play-off Tournament
For the inter-confederation play-off tournament, the two highest-placed teams in the FIFA World Ranking – DR Congo and Iraq – were seeded for two finals, with the remaining four playing in two semi-finals. The draw for the finals is as follows:
DR Congo vs Jamaica (Guadalajara)
Iraq vs Bolivia (Monterrey)
