North America performs host to the grandest World Cup in historical past in 2026, with extra nations than ever earlier than competing on soccer’s greatest stage.
Qualifying has now began in all member associations, and the journey will likely be arduous for a lot of. The method began way back to October 2023 for some.
The expanded event opens up alternatives for even better illustration throughout the globe, with every federation boasting extra assured spots on the World Cup than ever earlier than.
With the majority of qualifying campaigns concluding by the top of the yr, here is an outline of the nations which have booked their place on the 2026 World Cup.
|
Nation |
Date certified |
|---|---|
|
USA |
Hosts |
|
Canada |
Hosts |
|
Mexico |
Hosts |
|
Japan |
March 20, 2025 |
For the primary time in World Cup historical past, 48 groups will compete within the event. From 1998 to 2022, the World Cup was a 32-team event.
FIFA initially deliberate for his or her expanded competitors to contain 16 teams of three groups, however the thrills that the four-team teams equipped in Qatar imply the group stage in 2026 will embody 12 teams of 4 and 32 groups will advance to the knockouts.
There’s already discuss of FIFA’s want to finally make the World Cup a 64-nation event as quickly as 2030, which means 2026 often is the sole 48-team competitors.
12 of the 22 World Cups have been gained by a European nation, and UEFA, because of the measurement of the federation and former outcomes, have essentially the most direct slots for the 2026 World Cup.
Qualifying in Europe obtained underway in March 2025 and will not conclude till March 2026, simply a few months earlier than the event begins. 16 nations are assured their place in North America, with the 12 group winners being joined by 4 play-off winners.
The remaining ten World Cup victories have been claimed by three South American nations: Brazil, holders Argentina, and Uruguay.
Simply ten groups are concerned in CONMEBOL’s qualifying, but a minimum of six will compete on the 2026 World Cup. There’s one inter-continental play-off spot open too.
People who end within the high six of then qualifying desk will guide their locations, whereas seventh place will compete within the play-off.
The hosts qualify robotically for the event, so the USA, Canada and Mexico aren’t concerned in Concacaf’s qualification course of.
Qualifying is a three-stage course of, with the third and remaining spherical involving 12 groups who’ll be drawn into three teams of 4. The three group winners will be part of the hosts on the 2026 World Cup, whereas the 2 best-ranked runners-up will qualify for the inter-continental play-offs.
In March 2025, Japan turned the primary nation outdoors of the three hosts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup by advantage of successful Group C within the third spherical of AFC qualifying. They’re one in all eight AFC members that can qualify for the event, and there is one inter-continental play-off spot open to one of many fourth-round group runners-up.
There will likely be 9 African representatives on the event off the again of Morocco’s historic marketing campaign in 2022. The 9 group winners in CAF qualifying will all qualify, and there is a spot within the inter-continental play-off for one of many 4 best-performing runners-up.
New Zealand have returned to the World Cup through OFC qualification, whereas New Caledonia will likely be concerned within the inter-continental play-off. Australia will likely be seeking to be part of their Oceanic neighbours in North America, however they have work to do of their AFC qualifying group.
Australia and New Zealand have competed on the identical World Cup simply as soon as earlier than (2010).
The primary 48-team World Cup will fittingly be held in North America, with the USA, Canada and Mexico all internet hosting matches on the event. 11 of the 16 venues taking part in host are within the US, with three Mexican and two Canadian cities additionally internet hosting.
2026 is the primary North American World Cup because the US held the event in 1994 and the primary to be held over three international locations.
MetLife Stadium, house to the New York Giants and Jets, has been chosen to host the ultimate on 19 July.
