FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

📅Updated: November 2025

⚽42 Teams Qualified

🌍6 Confederations

The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers are nearing completion across all confederations, with 42 teams now securing their spots in the expanded 48-team tournament. The latest qualification rounds have seen historic achievements, including twelve European teams qualified led by England, Portugal’s record-breaking 9-1 victory, emotional returns from Scotland, Haiti, and Austria, plus Caribbean debut from Curaçao among nine African nations booking their tickets to North America.

Tournament Overview

48Total Teams

42Qualified

3Host Nations

6Spots Remaining

Qualified Teams

The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Here are the teams that have secured their qualification:

Host Nations (Automatic Qualification)

🇺🇸

United States

Co-host nation with automatic qualification
🇲🇽

Mexico

Historic third-time World Cup host
🇨🇦

Canada

First time hosting men’s World Cup

CONMEBOL (South America) – 6 Qualified

Six South American teams have secured qualification, with qualifying completed in September 2025:

🇦🇷

Argentina

Defending world champions, first CONMEBOL qualifier
🇧🇷

Brazil

Five-time winners, qualified under new coach Carlo Ancelotti
🇪🇨

Ecuador

Qualified despite 3-point penalty
🇺🇾

Uruguay

Fifth consecutive World Cup appearance
🇨🇴

Colombia

Return after missing Qatar 2022
🇵🇾

Paraguay

First World Cup since 2010, national holiday declared

AFC (Asia) – 8 Qualified

Eight Asian teams have secured their spots, including three historic first-time qualifiers and Qatar’s first qualification through the regular route:

🇯🇵

Japan

First team worldwide to qualify (excluding hosts)
🇮🇷

Iran

Fourth consecutive World Cup appearance
🇰🇷

South Korea

Historic 11th consecutive qualification
🇯🇴

Jordan

First-ever World Cup qualification
🇺🇿

Uzbekistan

Historic debut, first Central Asian nation
🇦🇺

Australia

Sixth consecutive qualification
🇶🇦

Qatar

First qualification through qualifying route, 2022 hosts
🇸🇦

Saudi Arabia

Seventh World Cup appearance, 2034 hosts

CAF (Africa) – 9 Qualified

All nine African qualification spots have been filled, including Cape Verde’s historic first-time qualification:

🇲🇦

Morocco

First African qualifier, Group E winners
🇹🇳

Tunisia

Seventh World Cup appearance, Group H winners
🇪🇬

Egypt

Group A winners, Mohamed Salah led qualification
🇩🇿

Algeria

Group qualification secured
🇬🇭

Ghana

Fifth World Cup appearance since 2006
🇨🇻

Cape Verde

First-ever World Cup qualification, Group D winners
🇿🇦

South Africa

Dramatic Group C qualification
🇨🇮

Ivory Coast

African Cup of Nations 2024 champions
🇸🇳

Senegal

Group B winners, fourth consecutive World Cup

CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean) – 6 Qualified

Six CONCACAF teams have qualified, including historic first-time qualifiers and emotional returns:

🇨🇼

Curaçao

First-ever World Cup! Population 160,000 – smallest qualifier
🇭🇹

Haiti

Emotional return after 52 years! Last appearance 1974
🇵🇦

Panama

Second World Cup appearance, building on 2018 debut

UEFA (Europe) – 12 Qualified

Twelve European teams have secured qualification, including emotional returns and record-breaking performances:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England

First European qualifier, perfect Group K record under Thomas Tuchel
🇵🇹

Portugal

RECORD 9-1 victory! Fernandes & Neves both score hat-tricks
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Scotland

28-year curse BROKEN! Tartan Army celebrates emotional return
🇦🇹

Austria

Das Team returns after 28 years! Tactical renaissance complete
🇧🇪

Belgium

Red Devils’ 15th appearance, generational transition complete
🇨🇭

Switzerland

Model of consistency – 13th World Cup, 5th consecutive tournament
🇪🇸

Spain

Euro 2024 champions! Tournament favorites for 2026
🇳🇴

Norway

End 27-year absence, Haaland-inspired breakthrough
🇭🇷

Croatia

Fifth consecutive World Cup, golden generation continues
🇫🇷

France

Two-time champions seek redemption after 2022 final loss
🇩🇪

Germany

Four-time champions, 6-0 win over Slovakia seals redemption
🇳🇱

Netherlands

Unbeaten campaign, 4-0 victory over Lithuania completes qualification

OFC (Oceania) – 1 Qualified

🇳🇿

New Zealand

First World Cup since 2010

November 2025 Qualification Highlights

The latest rounds of qualification matches have produced dramatic storylines across multiple confederations:

Recent Qualification Results

Portugal 9-1 Armenia: RECORD breaking! Bruno Fernandes & João Neves both score hat-tricks
Scotland 2-1 Ukraine: 28-year wait over! Hampden Park erupts (51,866 fans)
Austria 3-1 Poland: Das Team returns after 28 years with dominant display
Belgium 4-0 Sweden: Red Devils secure 15th World Cup appearance
Switzerland 2-0 Romania: La Nati’s 13th World Cup, model of consistency
Spain 3-0 Czech Republic: Euro 2024 champions announce title bid
Curaçao 2-1 Trinidad & Tobago: HISTORIC! First-ever World Cup (Pop: 160,000)
Haiti 1-0 Jamaica: EMOTIONAL! 52-year wait ends, back since 1974
Panama 2-0 Costa Rica: Los Canaleros secure second World Cup
England 5-0 Latvia: First European nation qualified with Harry Kane double in Riga
Germany 6-0 Slovakia: Four-time champions complete redemption after opening loss
Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania: Unbeaten campaign sealed with dominant victory
Norway: Historic return after 27 years led by Erling Haaland
Croatia: Fifth consecutive qualification extending remarkable record
France: Reigning finalists cruise through with championship ambitions
Qatar 2-1 UAE: First World Cup through qualifying route after hosting 2022
Saudi Arabia 0-0 Iraq: Secured seventh World Cup appearance
Egypt 3-0 Djibouti: Mohamed Salah scored twice to secure qualification
Cape Verde Group D winners: Historic first-time qualification
South Africa 3-0 Rwanda: Dramatic Group C qualification ahead of Nigeria
Senegal 4-0 Mauritania: Group B winners secure fourth consecutive World Cup

Qualification Structure

The qualification process varies across confederations, reflecting the global nature of football:

Europe (UEFA) – 4 Spots Remaining

54 teams compete for 16 spots through 12 groups. Group winners qualify directly, with 12 teams already confirmed. Playoffs in March 2026 will determine final 4 European spots.

Africa (CAF) – Complete

All nine African spots have been filled through group stage qualification completed in October 2025.

Asia (AFC) – Complete

All eight direct Asian spots have been secured.

CONCACAF – Complete

Beyond the three host nations, three additional CONCACAF spots filled with Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama.

South America (CONMEBOL) – Complete

All six direct spots have been filled.

Key Upcoming Dates

European Playoffs: March 2026 for final 4 UEFA spots
Intercontinental Playoffs: March 2026 for final 2 qualification spots
World Cup Draw: December 5, 2025 at Kennedy Center, Washington DC
Tournament: June 11 – July 19, 2026

🏆 November 2025 Notable Achievements

42 teams now qualified with only 6 spots remaining
Portugal’s RECORD 9-1 victory – most goals in single WC qualifier
Bruno Fernandes & João Neves both score hat-tricks for Portugal
Scotland ends 28-year World Cup drought – Hampden Park erupts!
Austria returns after 28 years with tactical renaissance
Belgium’s 15th World Cup – generational transition complete
Switzerland’s 13th World Cup – model of European consistency
Spain qualifies as Euro 2024 champions and tournament favorites
Curaçao makes history – smallest nation ever (Pop: 160,000)!
Haiti’s emotional return after 52 years since 1974
Panama’s 2nd World Cup – establishing CONCACAF power
Twelve European teams qualified led by England with perfect record under Thomas Tuchel
Germany completes dramatic redemption with 6-0 demolition of Slovakia
Netherlands finishes unbeaten campaign, extending WC qualifying streak to 17 matches
Norway ends 27-year World Cup drought with Haaland-led breakthrough
Croatia extends to fifth consecutive World Cup with golden generation
France qualifies as reigning finalists seeking redemption
All nine African spots filled, including Cape Verde’s historic debut
Three first-time qualifiers: Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Curaçao
South Korea extends remarkable run to 11th consecutive World Cup
Qatar qualifies through regular route for first time after hosting 2022
Saudi Arabia secures place ahead of hosting 2034 World Cup

Tournament Format

The expanded 48-team format brings significant changes:

48 teams divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each in the group stage
Top two teams from each group plus 8 best third-place teams advance to Round of 32
Increased representation from all confederations
More opportunities for smaller nations to compete on football’s biggest stage

Remaining Qualification Spots by Confederation

🌍

UEFA (Europe)

4 spots remaining – Playoffs in March 2026
🌍

Intercontinental Playoffs

2 final spots through March 2026 playoffs

With 42 teams now qualified and only 6 spots remaining, the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers are entering their final phase. The historic November qualification week saw Portugal’s record-breaking 9-1 victory, Scotland and Austria ending 28-year droughts, Curaçao becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify, Haiti’s emotional 52-year return, and European powerhouses Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland confirming their elite status, while Germany and Netherlands completed dramatic final days.

The expanded 48-team format ensures the most diverse World Cup in history, with representation from all confederations and compelling storylines from first-time qualifiers to veteran tournament participants. With the World Cup draw scheduled for December 5, 2025, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be an unforgettable tournament across North America.