Sports
42 Nations Already Secured for 2026 FIFA World Cup as Play Off Line Up Finalised
The race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking shape, with 42 teams already confirmed for the expanded 48 nation tournament and the full list of Play-Off Tournament contenders now settled.
Europe added several heavyweights to the confirmed list this week, with Belgium, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands all sealing qualification. UEFA sides will return in the next international window for the play-off phase, which will determine the remaining four European berths.
Globally, only two places at the World Cup will be decided through the six-team FIFA Play-Off Tournament, featuring one representative from each confederation. The qualifiers for that showdown are Bolivia (CONMEBOL), Congo DR (CAF), Iraq (AFC), Jamaica (CONCACAF), New Caledonia (OFC) and Suriname (CONCACAF).
In the CONCACAF region, north of South America, Curaçao, Haiti and Panama have also secured their places after a strong qualifying campaign.
Confirmed Teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (42/48)
Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
AFC: Australia, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
CONCACAF: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
OFC: New Zealand
UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Play-Off Tournament Participants (6/6):
Bolivia, Congo DR, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Suriname
Continental Allocation of Qualification Spots:
AFC: 8 direct spots + 1 Play-Off
CAF: 9 direct spots + 1 Play-Off
CONCACAF: 6 direct spots + 2 Play-Off
CONMEBOL: 6 direct spots + 1 Play-Off
OFC: 1 direct spot + 1 Play-Off
UEFA: 16 direct spots
The remaining six berths for the 2026 World Cup will be decided in the coming months, with continental play-offs and the global Play-Off Tournament set to complete the lineup.