FIFA World Cup 2026: Which Countries Have Qualified So Far?

The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on, with less than eight months remaining before football’s biggest international tournament kicks off. Here’s a complete guide to the expanded competition — including when and where it will be held, the nations that have already qualified, and what fans can expect.

When and Where Will the World Cup Be Held?

The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup promises to be the most ambitious in history. For the first time ever, the tournament will feature 48 nations from six confederations, competing in 16 cities across three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and marks the first time the event will be co-hosted by three nations. While the United States previously hosted in 1994 and Mexico in 1970 and 1986, Canada will be staging its first-ever World Cup.

In Mexico, matches will take place in Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City, with the opening match on 11 June being played at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Canada will host games in Toronto and Vancouver, while the United States will stage fixtures in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Every match from the quarter-finals onwards will be played on American soil, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday 19 July 2026.

How Many Countries Will Participate?

The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams playing in 104 matches, compared to the 64 games contested by 32 teams at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The format will see the 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will progress to a knockout round of 32. The tournament will then follow the traditional structure of the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.

In terms of continental representation:

• Europe (UEFA) will have 16 teams.
• Africa (CAF) will feature nine.
• Asia (AFC) will have eight.
• South America (CONMEBOL) and North & Central America (CONCACAF) will each contribute at least six teams.
• Oceania (OFC) will have one guaranteed place.

The final two slots will be determined through an inter-confederation playoff involving six non-UEFA nations in March 2026.

Which Countries Have Qualified So Far?

Alongside the three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — 25 other teams have secured their spots. The list includes first-time qualifiers such as Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, marking historic moments for these nations.

AFC (Asia): Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Eight qualify automatically; one will enter the inter-confederation playoffs.

CAF (Africa): Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Nine qualify automatically; one enters the playoffs.

CONMEBOL (South America): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Six qualify automatically; Bolivia enters the playoffs.

OFC (Oceania): New Zealand
One qualifies automatically; one enters the playoffs.

UEFA (Europe): England
12 qualify automatically; four will come through the UEFA playoffs.

Meanwhile, in CONCACAF, it remains to be seen which teams will join the hosts. Three nations will qualify automatically, while two others will enter the inter-confederation playoffs.

Premier League Players Expected to Feature

With 28 countries already assured of their participation, a vast number of Premier League players are set to compete at the 2026 World Cup.

For instance, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus are expected to spearhead Ghana’s attack, while Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov is likely to be the standout player for Uzbekistan, who are making their tournament debut.

Brazil, one of the pre-tournament favourites, boasts 31 players currently registered in the Premier League, including seven from Nottingham Forest, the most from any single club.

When Will the Main Draw Take Place?

The main draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on 5 December 2025 in Washington D.C.. During the draw, the 48 qualified nations will be placed into 12 groups (A–L), revealing their potential routes to the final.

Tournament Schedule

• Group Stage: 11–27 June
• Round of 32: 28 June–3 July
• Round of 16: 4–7 July
• Quarter-finals: 9–11 July
• Semi-finals: 14–15 July
• Third-place Playoff: 18 July
• Final: 19 July

As anticipation builds, fans around the world are eager to see which nations will complete the 48-team lineup and who will lift the trophy at MetLife Stadium next July.