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    World Cup 2026 Teams

    A record 48 national teams will compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first expanded tournament in World Cup history. Teams represent all six FIFA confederations, making this the most globally inclusive World Cup ever held.

    46 teams have qualified through their respective confederation pathways, including the four UEFA playoff winners (Czech Republic, Bosnia, Turkey, Sweden). The remaining 2 spots will be decided through the intercontinental playoffs.

    Team Comparison

    Select two teams to compare stats head to head

    VS

    All 48 teams

    TeamFIFA RankingConfederationGroup
    Mexico Mexico15CONCACAFA
    South Korea South Korea22AFCA
    South Africa South Africa61CAFA
    Czech Republic Czech Republic41UEFAA
    Canada Canada27CONCACAFB
    Switzerland Switzerland18UEFAB
    Qatar Qatar35AFCB
    Bosnia Bosnia58UEFAB
    Brazil Brazil5CONMEBOLC
    Morocco Morocco13CAFC
    Haiti Haiti83CONCACAFC
    Scotland Scotland42UEFAC
    United States United States14CONCACAFD
    Paraguay Paraguay44CONMEBOLD
    Australia Australia24AFCD
    Turkey Turkey29UEFAD
    Germany Germany8UEFAE
    Ecuador Ecuador28CONMEBOLE
    Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire39CAFE
    Curaçao Curaçao87CONCACAFE
    Netherlands Netherlands6UEFAF
    Japan Japan16AFCF
    Tunisia Tunisia40CAFF
    Sweden Sweden27UEFAF
    Belgium Belgium7UEFAG
    Egypt Egypt33CAFG
    Iran Iran20AFCG
    New Zealand New Zealand93OFCG
    Spain Spain1UEFAH
    Uruguay Uruguay11CONMEBOLH
    Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia55AFCH
    Cabo Verde Cabo Verde63CAFH
    France France3UEFAI
    Senegal Senegal17CAFI
    Norway Norway19UEFAI
    Iraq Iraq63AFCI
    Argentina Argentina2CONMEBOLJ
    Algeria Algeria32CAFJ
    Austria Austria23UEFAJ
    Jordan Jordan68AFCJ
    Portugal Portugal4UEFAK
    Colombia Colombia10CONMEBOLK
    Uzbekistan Uzbekistan52AFCK
    DR Congo DR Congo53CAFK
    England England4UEFAL
    Croatia Croatia9UEFAL
    Ghana Ghana60CAFL
    Panama Panama47CONCACAFL

    All 48 teams are confirmed. IC Playoff 1 winner: DR Congo (→ Group K). IC Playoff 2 winner: Iraq (→ Group I).

    Teams by confederation

    ConfederationSpotsQualified Teams
    UEFA (Europe)16
    SpainSpainFranceFranceEnglandEnglandPortugalPortugalNetherlandsNetherlandsBelgiumBelgiumGermanyGermanyCroatiaCroatiaSwitzerlandSwitzerlandAustriaAustriaNorwayNorwayScotlandScotlandCzech RepublicCzech RepublicBosniaBosniaTurkeyTurkeySwedenSweden
    CAF (Africa)9
    MoroccoMoroccoSenegalSenegalEgyptEgyptCôte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireAlgeriaAlgeriaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaGhanaGhanaTunisiaTunisiaCabo VerdeCabo Verde
    AFC (Asia)8
    JapanJapanIranIranSouth KoreaSouth KoreaAustraliaAustraliaSaudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaQatarQatarUzbekistanUzbekistanJordanJordan
    CONMEBOL (South America)6
    ArgentinaArgentinaBrazilBrazilEcuadorEcuadorColombiaColombiaUruguayUruguayParaguayParaguay
    CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean)6 (including 3 hosts)
    USAUSACanadaCanadaMexicoMexicoPanamaPanamaHaitiHaitiCuraçaoCuraçaoMexico included as host
    OFC (Oceania)1
    New ZealandNew Zealand
    Intercontinental Playoffs2
    TBD (March 2026)

    This is the first World Cup where all six confederations have at least one guaranteed spot. OFC (Oceania) previously had to win an intercontinental playoff to qualify — New Zealand now enters directly.

    Notable storylines

    World Cup debutants

    Haiti, Cabo Verde and Curaçao will all make their men's World Cup debut in 2026. Curaçao becomes the smallest nation by population ever to qualify. Uzbekistan and Jordan also appear for the first time.

    Returning after long absences

    Scotland are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, having qualified by topping their UEFA group with a dramatic final-day win over Denmark. South Africa return after a 16-year gap (last appeared as 2010 hosts). Austria qualified for their first World Cup since 1998. Paraguay are back after missing the last two editions.

    Defending champions & title contenders

    Argentina enter as defending champions, seeking a record-tying third consecutive final appearance. Brazil (5 titles), Germany (4), and France (2) are the other multi-time champions in the field. FIFA placed Spain and Argentina on opposite sides of the knockout bracket, with France and England also separated — meaning these four teams can only meet from the semifinals onward.

    Last dance?

    This could be the final World Cup for several legendary players: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, age 41), Luka Modrić (Croatia, 40), Son Heung-min (South Korea, 33), and potentially Lionel Messi (Argentina, 38) if he is called up. Kevin De Bruyne has also hinted this may be Belgium's golden generation's final tournament.

    2 spots still up for grabs

    UEFA playoffs — Completed

    PathWinnerGroup
    Path ABosnia BosniaGroup B
    Path BSweden SwedenGroup F
    Path CTurkey TurkeyGroup D
    Path DCzech Republic Czech RepublicGroup A

    Intercontinental playoffs (2 spots) — Decided

    PlayoffWinnerGroup Destination
    IC Playoff 1DR CongoGroup K
    IC Playoff 2IraqGroup I

    The intercontinental playoffs were held in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico. DR Congo won IC Playoff 1 and Iraq won IC Playoff 2, completing the 48-team field.

    Frequently asked questions