FIFA World Cup 2026

Qualified Teams

The 48 teams that will make history at FIFA World Cup 2026

A new era of world football

FIFA World Cup 2026 marks a historic milestone by expanding to 48 teams, a significant increase from the 32 teams in previous editions. This expansion represents the democratization of football, offering more opportunities for nations around the world to compete on the sport's biggest stage.

The new qualification structure reflects football's global growth, with more places allocated to confederations like Africa and Asia. This inclusive format not only intensifies competition in the qualifiers, but also enriches the tournament, ensuring that more nations and football cultures share their talent with the world.

Distribution by Confederation

UEFA

CONMEBOL

CAF

AFC

CONCACAF

OFC

Total teams

National teams

Host Nations with Guaranteed Spot

United States

Second time as host (1994, 2026)
11 host cities

Mexico

Only country with three World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026)
3 host cities

Canada

First Men's World Cup as host
2 host cities

Qualification Process

The qualification process for FIFA World Cup 2026 began in 2023 and will extend until 2025. It involves more than 200 national teams from around the world. Each continental confederation has a number of allocated spots, and teams compete in regional tournaments to secure their place in the final phase, reflecting football's growth and competitiveness in their regions.

groups

Group Format

The 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each. The top two from each group and the eight best third-place teams will advance to a new round of 32.

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Global Representation

Each confederation has at least one representative. Asia, Africa and Oceania guarantee at least 1 direct spot, reflecting football's growth in these continents.

Don't miss

A single match

Check out the complete schedule and follow your favorite teams on their path to glory.

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