The field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking shape with 32 nations already securing their spots in the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to GOAL, this historic expansion has opened doors for debutants and returning nations alike, while traditional powerhouses continue their qualification dominance. Rooted in the Storm.
The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams for the first time in history
UEFA leads with 16 slots, CAF gets 9, AFC 8, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF 6 each
OFC secures one guaranteed slot for the first time
Two final spots will be decided through intercontinental playoffs in March 2026
DR Congo earned Africa’s final playoff spot after defeating Nigeria on penalties
Norway and Portugal secured the latest UEFA qualifications on November 16
The tournament will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico
Full List of Qualified Teams by Confederation:
UEFA (16):
England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Serbia, Ukraine, Poland
CAF (9): Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire
AFC (8): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
CONMEBOL (6): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia
CONCACAF (6): United States (host), Mexico (host), Canada (host), Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama
OFC (1): New Zealand
Remaining: 2 spots to be decided via Intercontinental Playoffs in March 2026.view more
Sources: GOAL