The qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup have officially concluded, and we now know the 48 countries that have qualified for the tournament, which will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
The upcoming World Cup will bring together a diverse mix of global powers, returning "giants," and newcomers in what will be the largest tournament in the competition's history.
It is worth noting, however, that there will also be notable absences from the football celebration, with the most significant being that of four-time champions, Italy, who for the third consecutive time failed to secure their ticket to the World Cup finals.
Reigning champions Argentina were among the first countries to secure their spot and are called upon to defend their title, in Lionel Messi's "Last Dance" with his national team.
The 2018 champions and 2022 finalists, France, will return as one of the favourites to go all the way and lift the trophy.
Euro champions, Spain, led by their teenage Barcelona star, Lamine Yamal, are also among the contenders.
After all, these three countries (France, Spain, and Argentina) are the top three in the FIFA rankings ahead of the tournament.
The teams that qualified for the 2026 World Cup in detail
- Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
- South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Czech Republic, Bosnia
- Asia: Australia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of Congo
- North/Central America: Panama, Curaçao, Haiti
- Oceania: New Zealand