The first 28 participants of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been revealed

The football world holds its breath in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup, which promises to be the largest in history. For the first time, the tournament will host 48 national teams, and three countries – USA, Canada, and Mexico – will serve as hosts. Today, with less and less time remaining until the start of the Mundial, a significant portion of participants has already been determined, and key details of the new qualification format have been revealed.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to official FIFA data, the 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19. At the moment, 28 of the 48 participating teams are already known, which is just over half of the total number. The expansion of the tournament by 16 teams compared to the previous seven World Cups (since 1998) opens new opportunities for many national teams around the globe.

Quota distribution and qualification mechanism:

• Europe: 15 teams from Europe will qualify for the tournament – 11 group winners and 4 best teams from the playoff matches.

• North America (CONCACAF): Three host countries – USA, Canada, Mexico – automatically receive spots.

• Intercontinental playoffs: The two remaining spots will be contested in March 2026. This mini-tournament will include representatives from all confederations except UEFA, as well as one additional team from CONCACAF. Participants will be divided into two groups of three teams each. The two highest FIFA-ranked teams (one in each group) will advance directly to the final, while the others will play each other in the semifinals.

Teams that have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup (28 of 48 teams):

• Tournament hosts:

  • USA

  • Canada

  • Mexico

• Asia:

  • Iran

  • Uzbekistan

  • Jordan

  • South Korea

  • Japan

  • Australia

  • Qatar

  • Saudi Arabia

• South America:

  • Argentina

  • Ecuador

  • Colombia

  • Uruguay

  • Brazil

  • Paraguay

• Africa:

  • Morocco

  • Tunisia

  • Egypt

  • Algeria

  • Ghana

  • Cape Verde

  • South Africa

  • Senegal

  • Ivory Coast

• Europe:

  • England

• Oceania:

  • New Zealand

The upcoming World Cup promises to be a true football celebration, providing an opportunity for more countries to showcase themselves on the world stage and compete for the most prestigious trophy. With the expanded format and new qualification rules, the competition for the remaining spots will be extremely intense and unpredictable.