List Of Countries That Have Qualified For 2026 FIFA World Cup

List Of Countries That Have Qualified For 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Co-hosts USA, Canada, Mexico automatically qualify for expanded tournament.
Uzbekistan makes historic World Cup debut, New Zealand returns after 16 years.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing closer, excitement is building as eight countries have now secured their places in what will be the largest World Cup in history.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the tournament, which will feature a groundbreaking 48-team format, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—marking the first time the World Cup will be staged across three nations.

The opening match will be held at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, making it the only stadium in history to host three World Cup openers. The United States will kick off their campaign the following day in Southern California, while Canada, as one of the co-hosts, will also be in action during the tournament’s opening week.

Confirmed Countries for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Japan
Japan became the first nation to qualify, dominating the Asian qualifiers with six wins and a draw in seven games. Their consistent form once again highlights their dominance in the continent.
Iran
Following closely behind, Iran secured their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. Although less commanding than Japan, the Iranian squad remained unbeaten, extending their total World Cup appearances to seven.
Uzbekistan
Making history, Uzbekistan qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup after a goalless draw against the UAE in Abu Dhabi. The result was enough to seal their place, marking a milestone for the Central Asian country.
New Zealand
After 16 years, New Zealand are back on the world stage. A 3-0 victory over New Caledonia secured their ticket, overcoming early setbacks including an injury to veteran captain Chris Wood.
Argentina
The reigning world champions booked their place in style, dismantling Brazil 4-1 in Buenos Aires. With goals from Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone, Argentina underlined their intent to defend their title.
Canada, Mexico, and the United States
As co-hosts, all three North American countries receive automatic qualification for the tournament. Although they qualified on merit in 2022, FIFA has confirmed they are exempt from the 2026 qualifying process.

Slot Allocation for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Europe (UEFA): 16
Africa (CAF): 9
Asia (AFC): 8
South America (CONMEBOL): 6
North & Central America (CONCACAF): 6
Oceania (OFC): 1 (first time ever)
Intercontinental Playoffs: 2

Qualified For 2026 FIFA World Cup

The expanded format means more teams, more matches, and more host cities—offering fans a month-long football spectacle like never before. The tournament officially kicks off in June 2026.