North America hosts the largest World Cup in History in 2026, with more nations than ever, before competing with the biggest football scene.
The qualifying has now begun in all members’ associations and the journey will be difficult for many. The process has already begun in October 2023 for some.
The extensive tournament opens opportunities for even greater representation around the world, with each federation having more guaranteed points in the World Cup than ever.
With most of the qualifying campaigns that end up by the end of the year, here is an overview of the nations that have closed their position in 2026 World Cup.
|
Nation |
Date Specialized |
|---|---|
|
USA |
Host |
|
Canada |
Host |
|
Mexico |
Host |
|
Japan |
March 20 2025 |
For the first time in the history of the World Cup, 48 teams will compete in the tournament. From 1998 to 2022, the World Cup was a 32 team tournament.
Fifa Originally scheduled for their expanded competition to include 16 teams of three teams, but the emotions that the teams of four teams provided in Qatar mean the team’s stage in 2026 will include 12 teams of four and 32 teams will knock out.
We are already talking about FIFA’s desire to make the World Cup a 64-Nation tournament just 2030, which means in 2026 can be the only 48 team competition.
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, has the most immediate sockets for the 2026 World Cup.
The qualifier in Europe began in March 2025 and will not be completed until March 2026, just two months before the tournament began. 16 Nations is guaranteed their place in North America, with 12 team winners joining four players of the play-off.
The other ten wins of the World Cup have been claimed by three Nations in South America: Brazil, Argentine and Uruguay holders.
Only ten teams are involved in the CONMEBOL qualifying, but at least six will compete in the 2026 World Cup. There is also a space-off spaceplace open as well.
Those who end at the top six of the then qualifying table will book for their places, and seventh place will compete in the play-off.
The hosts fulfill the conditions automatically for the tournament so that the US, Canada and Mexico do not participate in the Concacaf qualifications process.
The qualifying is a three -step process, with the third and final round including 12 teams that will be drawn to three teams of four. The three winners of the teams will participate in the hosts in the 2026 World Cup, while the two best runners will qualify for the inter-continental play-offs.
In March 2025, Japan became the first nation outside the three hosts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup because of Group C’s victory in the third round of AFC. It is one of the eight members of the AFC who will qualify for the tournament and there is a distinguished Play-Off spot open in one of the fourth groups.
There will be nine African representatives in the tournament from the back of Morocco’s historic campaign in 2022. The nine winners of the CAF group will meet all the conditions and there is one point in the space-off for one of the four runners-ups.
New Zealand has returned to the World Cup viaC, while New Caledonia will participate in the space-off space. Australia will try to participate in their ocean neighbors in North America, but they have a job to do their AFC qualifying team.
Australia and New Zealand competed in the same World Cup just once ago (2010).
The first World Cup of the 48 teams will take place in North America, with the US, Canada and Mexico hosting all the games in the tournament. 11 of the 16 spaces playing hosts are in the US, with three Mexican and two Canadian cities that also host.
2026 is the first World Cup in North America since the US occupied the tournament in 1994 and the first to take place in three countries.
The Metlife Stadium, which hosts New York’s giants and jets, has been selected to host the final on July 19th.
