World Cup 2026: Which teams are already qualified?

In addition to the host countries, representatives from South America, Asia and Oceania have already secured places for the World Cup.

In an unprecedented format, the 2026 World Cup — held in Canada, the United States and Mexico — will feature 48 teams. This will be the first time the World Cup takes place in three host countries and with 16 more teams than the previous edition. Eighteen places are already confirmed.

With the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the six direct places are confirmed. Six Asian teams are also confirmed. In Oceania, New Zealand has also secured its place. The United States, Mexico and Canada are automatically confirmed as host countries.

On this FIFA Date in September, Africa met its first two representatives.

The opening match of the 2026 World Cup will take place on 11 June at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where the Mexican national team will make its debut against an opponent to be defined in a draw. The final is scheduled for 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New York.

Countries qualified for the 2026 World Cup

United States (hosts)
Mexico (hosts)
Canada (hosts)
Japan (Asia)
Iran (Asia)
New Zealand (Oceania)
Uzbekistan (Asia)
South Korea (Asia)
Jordan (Asia)
Australia (Asia)
Argentina (South America)
Brazil (South America)
Ecuador (South America)
Uruguay (South America)
Colombia (South America)
Paraguay (South America)
Morocco (Africa)
Tunisia (Africa)

The battle for the remaining places

Asia

In addition to the places already won, Asia has two more direct places in the World Cup. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia will be divided into two groups of three in the next round. The winner of each group will qualify for the World Cup, while the teams that finish second will compete in a playoff for a place in the intercontinental play-offs.

The triangulars will be played on the next FIFA Date, scheduled for October.

Africa

Africa is still in the first phase of its qualifiers. There are nine groups with six teams each, with the winners qualifying directly for the World Cup. After Morocco and Tunisia secured their places, the other seven direct places will be decided on the October FIFA Date.

The four best runners-up will go to a playoff, which will take place in November, to determine the continent's representative in the intercontinental playoffs.

North, Central America and the Caribbean

The third phase of the CONCACAF qualifiers began on this FIFA Date. Twelve teams will be divided into three groups. The three group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the two runners-up with the best campaigns will go to the intercontinental play-offs.

Teams still in contention: Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, El Salvador, Curacao, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Suriname and Bermuda.

Europe

Europe is still in the early stages of its first phase, with teams divided into 12 groups of varying sizes. The champion of each group will secure a place in the World Cup, while the runners-up will go to a playoff with the four best-placed teams in the Nations League who did not finish first or second in their groups. The 16 teams will be divided into playoffs of four teams each, with the winners securing a place in the World Cup.

How the intercontinental playoffs work

The intercontinental playoffs, scheduled for March 2026, will award two additional places in the World Cup. Six teams will participate — two from CONCACAF and one each from Africa, South America, Asia and Oceania.

The top two teams in the FIFA Ranking will advance directly to a final, while the other two teams in each group will play in a semi-final.

New Caledonia, representing Oceania, and Bolivia, representing South America, are the two teams that have secured their places in the intercontinental play-offs.

This article was originally published on Trivela.