The road to the return of the biggest FIFA World Cup in 2026 is long overdue, with all Six Continental configurations. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are underway, with teams around the globe competing for a coveted spot in the expanded 48-team tournament scheduled to take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is still more than a year away, and three 3 teams are booked to secure a Spot as hosts – Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The 2026 World Cup marks the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams. After the revamped World Cup format, for the first time, 9 African, 6 South American, 8 Asian, 6 North, Central American, and Caribbean, including host teams and 16 European teams are guaranteed to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Qualification Process Overview
- AFC: 8 direct slots
- CAF: 9 direct slots
- CONCACAF (North, Central America, and Caribbean): 6 direct slots (including automatic qualifications for hosts Canada, Mexico, and the USA)
- CONMEBOL (South America): 6 direct slots
- OFC: 1 direct slot
- UEFA: 16 direct slots
Which Teams Can Secure a Spot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
AFC (Asia): The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has a multi-stage qualification process:
- Group A: Iran has already qualified.
- Group B: South Korea is in a good position
- Group C: Japan has already qualified
- Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates are in strong positions.
CAF (Africa): The qualification process is still ongoing. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualification involves two main rounds:
- Egypt is currently leading their group.
CONMEBOL (South America): All ten CONMEBOL teams participate in a single league format:
- Argentina has already qualified.
- Ecuador, Uruguay, and Brazil are currently in the other direct qualification spots.
UEFA (Europe): The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) qualification has a group stage and playoffs
- The UEFA qualification stage begins
CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean): As the 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, these three nations receive automatic qualification. The remaining qualification process involves multiple rounds.
- The qualification process is underway. Currently, Honduras is leading their group.
OFC (Oceania): The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) qualification typically involves a group stage and knockout rounds. The specifics for the 2026 qualification will determine the exact format, but generally, the top teams compete to determine the direct qualifier and the representative for the inter-confederation playoffs
- New Caledonia is currently leading its group