The 2026 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon with next summer’s showpiece set to be an incredible spectacle.
For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams in an expanded format. There are more places than ever up for grabs and teams across the globe are battling it out for a place on football’s biggest stage.
Europe’s qualification process has just begun, but elsewhere there are federations rapidly reaching the conclusion of their campaigns.
But who will join host nations USA, Mexico and Canada at next summer’s finals?
The first nation to qualify alongside the hosts were Japan, who secured their place with a 2-0 win over Bahrain on March 20th. Japan will compete in an eighth consecutive World Cup and have reached the Round of 16 in each of their last two appearances. That represents the joint-best performance from The Samurai Blue at the finals.
JAPAN BECOME THE FIRST TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP! 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/VHA8SlCzQK
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 20, 2025
New Zealand were the second nation to book their place. Due to the expanded format, Oceania have been handed an automatic qualification place.
The All Whites made light work of reaching only their third-ever World Cup. Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood scored a hat-trick for Darren Bazeley’s side in their 7-0 semi-final win over Fiji, before New Caledonia were beaten 3-0 in the play-off final. Next summer will be their third appearance at the World Cup after group-stage exits in 1982 and 2010.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Every team to have qualified for the tournament
- United States (Co-hosts)
- Mexico (Co-hosts)
- Canada (Co-hosts)
- Japan
- New Zealand
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Next summer’s tournament will begin on June 11th, with the opening fixture to be held at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
The final of the 2026 World Cup will take place on July 19th, in New Jersey. The 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium is the venue for the decider.
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