World Cup 2026: Who's In and Who's Still in the Hunt?
Published Date: 3 Jun, 2025
June 3, 2025 — Global Football Scene
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just over a year away, the excitement is building as teams from around the world battle for a spot in the tournament. This edition will be historic, not only because it marks the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams, but also because it will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Host Nations Secure Their Spots
As co-hosts, the United States, Canada, and Mexico have automatically qualified for the tournament. This marks the 12th World Cup appearance for the U.S., the 18th for Mexico, and the 3rd for Canada. The tournament will be the first time Canada hosts the World Cup, while the U.S. and Mexico have previously hosted the event in 1994 and 1986, respectively.
Early Qualifiers from Other Regions
Several nations have also secured their places in the tournament through the qualification process:
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Japan: The Samurai Blue topped their group in the AFC qualifiers, becoming the first non-host nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. This marks their 8th consecutive World Cup appearance.
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Iran: Team Melli secured their spot with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan, finishing top of their group in the AFC qualifiers. This will be Iran's 4th consecutive World Cup appearance.
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New Zealand: The All Whites clinched their place by winning the OFC qualifying final, marking their 3rd World Cup appearance.
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Argentina: The reigning World Cup champions secured their spot by finishing in the top 6 of the CONMEBOL qualifiers. This will be Argentina's 18th World Cup appearance.
Qualification Process and Format
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32-team format. The qualification process is ongoing across all six FIFA confederations:
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AFC (Asia): 8 direct spots and 1 inter-confederation play-off place.
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CAF (Africa): 9 direct spots and 1 inter-confederation play-off place.
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CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean): 6 direct spots and 2 inter-confederation play-off places.
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CONMEBOL (South America): 6 direct spots and 1 inter-confederation play-off place.
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OFC (Oceania): 1 direct spot and 1 inter-confederation play-off place.
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UEFA (Europe): 16 direct spots.
The final draw for the tournament is scheduled to take place in December 2025 in the United States.
Looking Ahead
As of June 3, 2025, the qualification process is still underway, and many teams are vying for the remaining spots. With the expanded format, the 2026 World Cup promises to be the most inclusive and exciting edition yet. Fans around the world are eagerly awaiting to see which nations will join the hosts and the early qualifiers in North America next year.
Date: 3 Jun, 2025
