2026 World Cup: Every country that's qualified so far | OneFootball

North America plays host to the grandest World Cup in history in 2026, with more nations than ever before competing on football's biggest stage.

Qualifying has now started in all member associations, and the journey will be arduous for many. The process started as far back as October 2023 for some.

The expanded tournament opens up opportunities for even greater representation across the globe, with each federation boasting more guaranteed spots at the World Cup than ever before.

With the bulk of qualifying campaigns concluding by the end of the year, here's an overview of the nations that have booked their place at the 2026 World Cup.

How many teams will participate at the 2026 World Cup?

FIFA are desperate to make everything bigger, but perhaps not better / Harold Cunningham/GettyImages

For the first time in World Cup history, 48 teams will compete in the tournament. From 1998 to 2022, the World Cup was a 32-team tournament.

FIFA initially planned for their expanded competition to involve 16 groups of three teams, but the thrills that the four-team groups supplied in Qatar mean the group stage in 2026 will include 12 groups of four and 32 teams will advance to the knockouts.

There's already talk of FIFA's desire to eventually make the World Cup a 64-nation tournament as soon as 2030, meaning 2026 may be the sole 48-team competition.

How many teams qualify from Europe?

12 of the 22 World Cups have been won by a European nation, and UEFA, due to the size of the federation and previous results, have the most direct slots for the 2026 World Cup.

Qualifying in Europe got underway in March 2025 and won't conclude until March 2026, just a couple of months before the tournament begins. 16 nations are guaranteed their place in North America, with the 12 group winners being joined by four play-off winners.

How many teams qualify from South America?

The remaining ten World Cup victories have been claimed by three South American nations: Brazil, holders Argentina, and Uruguay.

Just ten teams are involved in CONMEBOL's qualifying, yet at least six will compete at the 2026 World Cup. There's one inter-continental play-off spot open too.

Those that finish in the top six of then qualifying table will book their places, while seventh place will compete in the play-off.

How many teams qualify from Concacaf?

The hosts qualify automatically for the tournament, so the USA, Canada and Mexico aren't involved in Concacaf's qualification process.

Qualifying is a three-stage process, with the third and final round involving 12 teams who'll be drawn into three groups of four. The three group winners will join the hosts at the 2026 World Cup, while the two best-ranked runners-up will qualify for the inter-continental play-offs.

How many teams qualify from Africa, Asia and Oceania?

Japan became the first non-hosts to qualify for the tournament / Kenta Harada/GettyImages

In March 2025, Japan became the first nation outside of the three hosts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup by virtue of winning Group C in the third round of AFC qualifying. They're one of eight AFC members that will qualify for the tournament, and there's one inter-continental play-off spot open to one of the fourth-round group runners-up.

There will be nine African representatives at the tournament off the back of Morocco's historic campaign in 2022. The nine group winners in CAF qualifying will all qualify, and there's a spot in the inter-continental play-off for one of the four best-performing runners-up.

New Zealand have returned to the World Cup via OFC qualification, while New Caledonia will be involved in the inter-continental play-off. Australia will be looking to join their Oceanic neighbours in North America, but they've got work to do in their AFC qualifying group.

Australia and New Zealand have competed at the same World Cup just once before (2010).

Who is hosting the 2026 World Cup?

MetLife Stadium will host the 2026 World Cup final / Al Bello/GettyImages

The first 48-team World Cup will fittingly be held in North America, with the USA, Canada and Mexico all hosting matches at the tournament. 11 of the 16 venues playing host are in the US, with three Mexican and two Canadian cities also hosting.

2026 is the first North American World Cup since the US held the tournament in 1994 and the first to be held over three countries.

MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Giants and Jets, has been selected to host the final on 19 July.