Teams which have qualified for the 2026 World Cup

By: The Associated Press Posted: 5:09 PM CST Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 Last Modified: 10:12 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

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A record 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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A record 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/11/2025 (279 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A record 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

On Tuesday, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland and Austria secured Europe’s remaining automatic spots. Later, Curaçao, Panama and Haiti secured the three spots available in North and Central America and the Caribbean conference (CONCACAF).

A total of 43 teams will earn places through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will secure places in the intercontinental playoffs featuring six teams. The three host countries automatically qualify.

Croat players celebret as they qualified for the World Cup aftre defeating Faroe Islands in Rijeka, Croatia, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

The breakdown

Asia has eight direct places and one — Iraq — in the six-team intercontinental playoff to be played in Mexico in March .

Africa has nine direct spots plus one — Congo — in the intercontinental playoff.

North and Central America and the Caribbean received three direct berths (plus the three host nations) and another two spots — Jamaica and Suriname — in the intercontinental playoffs.

South America has six direct spots and will send another team — Bolivia — to the intercontinental playoffs.

Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot — New Zealand clinched that in March. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs.

Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the World Cup.

Already qualified

United States, Mexico, Canada (automatically as hosts)

Africa

Algeria

Cape Verde

Egypt

Ghana

Ivory Coast