Which teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
Quick Answer
As of March 2026, 42 of 48 teams have qualified. The remaining 6 spots will be decided by European playoffs (4 spots) and intercontinental playoffs (2 spots) in late March 2026. All South American, African, Asian, CONCACAF, and Oceanian spots are filled.
Detailed Explanation
Qualification for the expanded 48-team World Cup is nearly complete. South America (6/6), Africa (9/9), Asia (8/8), CONCACAF (6/6), and Oceania (1/1) have all filled their quotas. Europe has filled 12 of 16 spots, with 4 remaining from the European playoffs scheduled for March 26 and 31, 2026. Two additional spots come from the intercontinental playoff tournament hosted in Mexico. First-time qualifiers include Curaçao and Haiti from CONCACAF.
📌Key Points
- 142 of 48 teams confirmed as of March 2026
- 2Europe: France, Germany, England, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, Scotland — 4 more via playoffs
- 3South America (all 6): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay
- 4Africa (all 9): Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana, South Africa
- 5Asia (all 8): Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan
- 6CONCACAF (all 6): USA, Canada, Mexico (hosts) + Panama, Curaçao, Haiti
- 7Oceania: New Zealand
- 8First-time World Cup teams: Curaçao, Haiti
📜Related Rules
Learn how the FIFA World Cup is structured with group stages, knockout rounds, and the path to the final.
Why FIFA expanded the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. History of tournament growth, reasons for expansion, confederation quotas, and format debates.