FIFA World Cup 2026: Who has qualified so far?

The race to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is heating up, and with 29 of the 48 spots already filled, the qualification picture is becoming clearer across every continent. The expanded format — increasing the tournament from 32 to 48 teams — has opened the door for more nations to take part in the world’s biggest football event, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Below is a full breakdown of all countries that have qualified so far, along with what’s still left to be decided.

🏟️ Automatically Qualified (Hosts)

The three host nations are guaranteed their place at the tournament:

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico

These teams will also be involved in World Cup preparations earlier than most, with infrastructure and hosting duties already in motion.

🌍 Qualified Teams by Confederation

AFC (Asia)

Asia has produced eight qualifiers so far, highlighting the strength and growth of football across the region:

• Australia
• Iran
• Japan
• Jordan
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• South Korea
• Uzbekistan

These teams impressed throughout the campaign and secured their places with consistent and dominant performances.

CAF (Africa)

Africa’s qualification battle has produced nine confirmed nations, offering one of the most diverse and competitive lineups from the continent:

• Algeria
• Cape Verde
• Egypt
• Ghana
• Ivory Coast
• Morocco
• Senegal
• South Africa
• Tunisia

The possibility of a tenth African nation reaching the finals via the intercontinental playoff makes this cycle one of the most successful ever for the continent.

CONMEBOL (South America)

South America remains one of the strongest regions in world football, and the qualifying process has already delivered six elite teams:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Paraguay
• Uruguay

These teams traditionally perform well on the world stage, and 2026 is expected to be no different.

OFC (Oceania)

Oceania will be represented by:

• New Zealand

They secured their place with confidence and are looking to make an impact in North America.

UEFA (Europe)

Europe has two confirmed teams so far, with many more still in the qualifying fight:

• England
• France

With 16 total spots available for UEFA nations, European qualification remains highly competitive, and several key nations are still battling through group matches and playoffs.

🔍 What’s Still to Be Decided?

With 29 teams confirmed, 19 spots remain open ahead of the December 2025 draw. The remaining places will be determined through:

• Ongoing confederation qualifiers
• UEFA playoffs
• Intercontinental playoffs

Europe, in particular, still has 11 spots up for grabs, making it the most unpredictable region at this stage. The intercontinental playoffs will also determine two crucial final spots, involving teams from various continents.

⚽ Impact on Premier League Players

Many Premier League stars will be heading to the 2026 World Cup thanks to their nations securing qualification. Players from countries such as Ghana, Morocco, Japan, and Australia are among those expected to feature prominently.

With several European nations still fighting for qualification, many Premier League players will also be involved in high-stakes matches as they look to secure their place at the tournament.

📅 Key Dates for FIFA World Cup 2026

• World Cup Draw: 5 December 2025 — Washington, D.C.
• Group Stage: 11–27 June 2026
• Knockout Stage: Early to mid-July 2026
• World Cup Final: 19 July 2026 — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

As the qualification process continues, more teams will join the list, and excitement continues to build for what promises to be the biggest football tournament in history.