FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers
Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
AFC: Australia, IR Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Japan
CAF: Morocco, Tunisia
CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
OFC: New Zealand
(18 of 48 teams).
Play-Off Tournament qualifiers
New Caledonia (1 of 6 teams)
Qualification places
AFC: Eight direct spots + one Play-Off Tournament place
CAF: Nine direct spots + one Play-Off Tournament place
Concacaf: Six direct spots + two Play-Off Tournament places
CONMEBOL: Six direct spots + one Play-Off Tournament place
OFC: One direct spot + one Play-Off Tournament place
UEFA: 16 direct spots
How teams qualified for FIFA World Cup 26
Canada
Canada complete the trio of hosts and the tournament will be the first time that the Maple Leafs have ever reached back-to-back tournaments. Their only previous visits to the competition came in 1986 and 2022, which both brought winless group stage exits.
Mexico
The 2026 World Cup will be the third time that Mexico has played host to the tournament, following 1970 and 1986, meaning El Tri have hosted the event more times than any other country.
This will be the nation’s 18th World Cup, with their previous best performances coming on home soil, as they reached the quarter-finals in both ’70 and ’86.
USA
As co-hosts, USA have automatically qualified for a second consecutive World Cup and will be looking to better their Round of 16 performance at Qatar 2022.
It will be the States’ 12th World Cup and their second on home soil after USA ’94, with their 1930 run to the semi-finals the nation’s best showing at the tournament to date.
Japan
The Samurai Blue eased through qualifying to secure their place at the global showpiece. Japan booked their ticket with three group games left to spare in the third round of the AFC preliminaries and will compete in their eighth successive World Cup.
New Zealand
New Zealand booked their spot at the World Cup by overcoming New Caledonia 3-0 in the OFC qualifying final. The All Whites will compete at the tournament for the third time, having previously qualified for the 1982 and 2010 editions.
IR Iran
Team Melli made it through in dramatic fashion, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Group A rivals Uzbekistan on 25 March. In doing so, the Iranians qualified their fourth successive FIFA World Cup edition.
Argentina
The reigning world champions were the first CONMEBOL team to qualify. They secured their spot on 25 March when when Bolivia drew 0-0 with Uruguay. That result meant Argentina were guaranteed to finish in one of South America’s six automatic World Cup qualification spots.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan reached their first World Cup after securing a top-two finish in the third round of Asian qualifying on 5 June.
Korea Republic
Korea Republic reached their 11th consecutive World Cup following a convincing 2-0 victory against 10-man Iraq at Basra International Stadium on 5 June.
Jordan
Jordan qualified for their first World Cup on 5 June after they defeated Oman 3-0 in Muscat and Iraq lost to Korea Republic.
Australia
Australia secured their place at a sixth successive World Cup on 10 June following a comeback 2-1 win against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. It was the first time the nation secured direction qualification since the 2014 campaign.
Ecuador
A scoreless draw against Peru in Lima on 10 June assured Ecuador of qualification with two matches to spare. It will be a fifth global finals this century for La Tri.
Brazil
New coach Carlo Ancelotti led Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay on 10 June. That will maintain the nation’s remarkable record of having feature at every edition of the World Cup.
Uruguay
Marcelo Bielsa has guided Uruguay to their fifth successive World Cup following a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Peru on matchday 17.
Paraguay
For the first time since 2010 Paraguay will participate in the World Cup after securing their spot at next year’s showpiece with a 0-0 draw at home against Ecuador on 4 September.
Colombia
After missing out on Qatar 2022, Colombia are back in the World Cup with talisman James Rodriguez leading his side to a 3-0 triumph over Bolivia on 4 September.
Morocco
The Atlas Lions, who made history for Africa at Qatar 2022, became the first team from the Mother Continent to reach the 2026 showpiece with an emphatic 5-0 win over Niger on 5 September.
Tunisia
The Carthage Eagles booked their place at the global showpiece with two games to spare in Group H with a dramatic last-gasp win away to Equatorial Guinea in Malabo, with their defence having not been breached in their first eight CAF qualifying matches.
Tickets
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