2026 World Cup: Full List of Nations Already Qualified for the Expanded Tournament

By WOBET On Nov 15, 2025

The expanded 48-team World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will run from 11 June to 19 July 2026. With the hosts automatically qualified, the remaining field has been filling gradually through regional campaigns that began in 2023. According to results outlined to date, 29 teams have secured places on merit, marking the first phase of a qualifying cycle shaped by wider entry slots across every confederation.

The new format divides the tournament into 12 groups of four. The top two teams in each group advance, joined by the eight strongest third-place finishers, creating a round of 32 for the first time. FIFA allocated 16 berths to UEFA, nine to CAF, eight to the AFC, six to CONMEBOL, three to CONCACAF and one to the OFC.

Japan became the first side to qualify through competitive play on the Asian path. New Zealand followed in Oceania after navigating a shorter regional campaign. Iran then secured their position with an 83rd-minute equaliser against Uzbekistan, a result that settled the group without needing further matches. Uzbekistan, Jordan and South Korea clinched their spots during the June international window, and Australia joined them at the end of the AFC’s third-round programme.

South America produced its early qualifiers in a tighter field. Argentina advanced before taking the pitch against Brazil after a draw between Bolivia and Uruguay shifted the table irreversibly. Brazil and Ecuador subsequently joined them, rounding out the first wave from CONMEBOL, followed by Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay as the standings settled.

In Africa, Morocco became the continent’s first entrant after a 5-0 win against Niger, with goals from Ismael Saibari, Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi signalling a controlled performance. Tunisia followed with a late stoppage-time strike from Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane against Equatorial Guinea. Egypt confirmed qualification with a win over Djibouti one matchday early, and Algeria secured passage a day later with a straightforward result against Somalia. Ghana claimed the fifth available place by defeating Comoros 1-0 in the final round.