Yeah, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming soon. It all starts June 11 in Mexico City, and there are six cities across North America where 48 teams will compete. That’s 16 teams more than usual, which involves a whole lot of countries that typically wouldn’t get the opportunity to play for their shot.
As of Nov. 21, 2025, we have 43 teams already through. Five additional slots are determined in the playoffs taking place in March 2026. Here’s who is in, who is still fighting, and who is already out.
The Hosts
Canada, Mexico, and the USA qualified automatically as hosts. They get in free without playing a single qualifier. The final happens July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
This is the first time three countries have hosted together. Opens in Mexico City, finishes in New York. Massive tournament stretching 39 days.
Europe’s Qualified Teams
Twelve European sides qualified automatically. England and France had already qualified ages ago. Then Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Norway, and Scotland followed.
Did Spain qualify for the World Cup 2026? Yeah, they also won their group without losing at all. Drew 2-2 with Turkey on Nov 18 to clinch it. Proper dominant campaign.
Is Portugal qualified for the World Cup 2026? Absolutely. Ronaldo’s heading to his last World Cup at 41. He’s got 143 international goals and says this is the last we’ll see of him at a tournament.
Scotland qualified for the tournament for the first time since 1998 with a 4-2 win against Denmark. They scored two goals in stoppage time, including Kenny McLean chipping the keeper from halfway in the eighth minute of added time. Hampden Park went absolutely mental.
Austria is in for their first World Cup in 28 years. Norway qualified for the first time since 1998, too. Haaland topped European qualifying in goals, which shocks nobody.
Europe’s Playoff Mess
Sixteen teams fighting for four spots in March. Italy, Denmark, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Slovakia, Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, and North Macedonia.
Four-time world champions Italy need playoffs again. They missed 2018 and 2022, so they’re desperate. Denmark needed just a draw against Scotland, but completely bottled it.
Greece got knocked out entirely. Serbia’s out too. Former European champions are missing the whole thing.
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Africa Sent Nine
Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia. Morocco will believe it after they made the semis at Qatar 2022.
This is the first-ever World Cup that Cape Verde qualified for. Population of about 600,000. They won their group ahead of Cameroon, which has way bigger names.
Nigeria is missing out on shocking loads of people. They lost to DR Congo in the playoffs. DR Congo now faces the intercontinental playoffs for one of the last two spots.
Cameroon’s out. Mali’s out. Massive African names are missing from North America.
South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Six from South America. Bolivia heads to the intercontinental playoffs.
Messi’s hoping to defend Argentina’s title but says he’ll assess fitness next year before deciding. He’s 38 and wants to actually contribute, not just show up for the sake of it.
Chile missed out despite finishing third in the 1962 World Cup. Their golden generation passed, and they couldn’t make it through.
CONCACAF Brought Surprises
Haiti qualified for the first time in 52 years. Panama’s through again after making 2018.
Then there’s Curacao. Population: 156,000. They became the smallest country ever to qualify after drawing 0-0 with Jamaica on November 18. Their fans went absolutely mental, celebrating in Rotterdam.
Jamaica and Suriname both face intercontinental playoffs.
Asia Sent Eight
Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Uzbekistan. Japan and South Korea are regulars.
Jordan and Uzbekistan qualified for their first-ever World Cups. Qatar’s through after actually qualifying this time instead of entering as hosts like in 2022.
Iraq is in the intercontinental playoffs after beating the UAE.
Oceania Got Respect
New Zealand qualified after winning their playoff bracket. Beat Fiji 7-0 in the semi, then won the final. Oceania finally gets one guaranteed spot instead of always facing playoffs against other continents.
New Caledonia finished second and heads to the intercontinental playoffs.
Intercontinental Playoff Situation
Six teams are fighting for the last two World Cup spots in March 2026. Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, Suriname, and New Caledonia.
Iraq and DR Congo got seeded. They go straight to two finals. The other four play semis first.
Semis happen March 26, and finals March 31. Less than three months before kickoff. Proper tight turnaround.
The Draw
The draw is Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Trump confirmed the location and did not close the door on running it himself.
Begins at 12 p.m. local time, 5 p.m. GMT. Groups get decided, although the final 48 teams that will fill the groups won’t be known until March.
Forty-eight teams is 12 groups of four. The leading two individuals from each group advance to the round of 32. Includes one more knockout round than in past tournaments.
Big Names Missing
Nigeria’s elimination shocked people. The missing African powerhouse feels wrong.
Chile’s out. Costa Rica didn’t make it after reaching the quarters in 2014. Cameroon missed despite their World Cup history.
Greece, the former European champions, were knocked out by England. Serbia’s absence means no passionate Serbian fans in North America.
China’s out. They’ve been investing heavily in football and really wanted another World Cup after 2002.
What Makes 2026 Different
Expanding to 48 teams changed everything. Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Curacao all made it. It wouldn’t have happened with the old 32-team format.
Qualified teams for the FIFA World Cup 26 Europe represent more diversity. Traditional powerhouses are there, but so are loads of nations experiencing their first World Cups or returning after decades.
Scotland back after 28 years. Austria after 28 years. Haiti after 52 years. These gaps show how hard qualifying usually is.
Tournament length increased to 39 days. 104 games total compared to 64 previously. That’s 40 more matches.
What Happens Next
European playoffs are sorted in March. Semis are March 26, and finals are March 31. Same dates for the intercontinental playoffs.
By the end of March 2026, we’ll know all 48 teams. Then there are just over two months till the tournament starts.
Teams will sort friendlies, fitness, and injuries. Managers are sweating over squad selections. Fans are booking flights if they haven’t already.
The December 5 draw gives a better idea of the path ahead. Some groups will be tough. Others are more forgiving.
Final Thoughts on Qualified Teams For the FIFA World Cup 26
Looking at who’s made it, the tournament promises brilliant matches. Traditional rivals are facing off. Newcomers are getting chances to shock.
Curacao’s qualification shows what the expanded format means for smaller nations. They’ll face teams with populations hundreds of times larger.
Messi and Ronaldo potentially playing their last World Cups adds emotional weight. Both legends are trying to end their international careers on high. Messi’s got the defending champion’s advantage.
Missing big names like Nigeria, Chile, and potentially Italy changes the tournament feel. Sometimes giants fall and new stories emerge.
March will be massive for the 22 teams still fighting for the final seven spots. European playoffs are brutal. Single matches mean one bad day, and you’re done.
Intercontinental playoffs add extra drama. Teams from different continents are meeting in a sudden-death. Bolivia, Iraq, DR Congo, Jamaica, Suriname, and New Caledonia are desperate for those last two tickets.
Come June, 48 teams gather across North America for the biggest World Cup ever. Seven months away, and excitement’s building.
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