The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup is approaching next year, and qualifying is well underway. Most of the biggest national teams around the world have yet to book a spot in the first 48-team World Cup in the history of the competition, after FIFA decided to expand from the old 32-team format that had been in place since the 1998 World Cup. The 2026 edition will kick off on June 11, 2026, and will end on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York City.
The most anticipated soccer tournament in the world will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The European confederation (UEFA) is guaranteed 16 slots of the 48 teams, while the African confederation (CAF) has nine, and the Asian (AFC) has eight. There will also be a minimum of six each from South America (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). On top of this, for the first time in history, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has one guaranteed slot while the remaining two spots will be decided through intercontinental playoffs.
Already qualified for 2026 World Cup
- United States: 2026 World Cup hosts
- Mexico: 2026 World Cup hosts
- Canada: 2026 World Cup hosts
- Japan: AFC qualifying third round
- New Zealand: Oceania champions
- Argentina: CONMEBOL qualifying
- Iran: AFC qualifying third round
- Uzbekistan: AFC qualifying third round
- South Korea: AFC qualifying third round
- Jordan: AFC qualifying third round
- Australia: AFC qualifying third round
- Brazil: CONMEBOL qualifying
- Ecuador: CONMEBOL qualifying
- Paraguay: CONMEBOL qualifying
- Uruguay: CONMEBOL qualifying
- Morocco: CAF qualifying
- New Zealand: OFC qualifying
- Egypt: CAF qualifying
- Tunisia: CAF qualifying
Latest qualifiers?
Lionel Messi’s Argentina clinched their spot for the 2026 as the reigning champions will enter as one of the favorites. Brazil has also clinched their spot following a 1-0 victory over Paraguay. Under the new management of Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil has remained the only team to qualify for every World Cup in history. Ecuador has also emerged from CONMEBOL qualifying with a draw away to Peru. CONMEBOL representatives are almost set with Paraguay and Uruguay booking their places. Paraguay drew Ecuador while Uruguay defeated Peru, and there is only the inter-confederation playoff spot up for grabs between Venezuela and Bolivia. Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the World Cup following a 5-0 victory over Niger. The Atlas Lions were able to qualify with three match days to spare and will wait to see who joins them.
Who are the heavy favorites to qualify from Europe?
Eight national teams will qualify for the World Cup by winning their groups in the first stage of qualification. Spain, 2024 European Champions, are one of the big favorites to ultimately lift the World Cup trophy, with their stars and young talent like FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who will also likely be a candidate for the World Cup’s MVP. Germany, who most recently won the World Cup in 2014, were shocked in their first qualifier but remain heavy favorites, while England will be playing their first tournament under new manager Thomas Tuchel, who took charge of the Three Lions after the departure of Gareth Southgate after losing to Spain their second Euro final in a row.
England, who are now starting a new era under Tuchel, are also expected to be among the candidates to win the final win alongside France, who will also see manager Didier Deschamps leaving the national team, ending a run which began in 2012 and includes winning the 2018 World Cup and making the final in 2022. The 2026 World Cup would be his last chance to win another major trophy with Les Bleus under his management, with one of the most talented rosters around the world. Portugal are also expected to be part of the World Cup with Cristiano Ronaldo likely playing his last major tournament, while the Netherlands are also one of the most talented teams in Europe to be part of the competition with former FC Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman leading the national team after losing to England in the semifinals of the 2024 Euros.
Switzerland might not be the caliber of the other teams expected to cruise to qualification, but will be playing in Group B against Sweden, Slovenia and Kosovo and if things go the right way, will be playing the World Cup as they are the best team of this qualification group. Last but not least, Italy have to be part of the most important soccer tournament in the world after missing out the last two World Cups for the first time in their history. After winning the 2020 Euros, Luciano Spalletti’s mission is to bring the Azzurri back where they belong after such a big disappointment. Italy’s last appearance in a knockout game of the World Cup was in 2006, when they won their last World Cup after beating France in penalties.
Who are Europe’s bubble teams?
While we already mentioned the eight teams that are expected to be there, and it will be a big disappointment if one of them does not make it to the 2026 World Cup, there are some others that will have to fight much more to get one of the 16 spots available for the UEFA national teams. After a disappointing UEFA 2024 Euro, Croatia will be called to react and qualify for the World Cup, same as Denmark who lost to Germany in the round of 16 in that tournament.
There will be a lot of expectations on both Austria and Belgium as two teams that were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the last Euros and need to react already in qualification. Belgium, in particular, decided to part ways with former coach Domenico Tedesco and appointed Rudi Garcia to start a new cycle, but he has to deliver in a short time.
Erling Haaland’s Norway are also a team to watch, but they have good chance as they are in the qualification group of Israel, Estonia, Moldavia and one between Italy and Germany, while Group E will see one big exclusion between Turkey and Georgia, as they were seeded in the same group of Spain or Netherlands (depending on the current UEFA Nations League). Poland are also expected to qualify through the playoffs while Serbia and Hungary will also fight for a spot in the World Cup.
This news was originally published on this post .
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