The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada is taking shape. After Monday’s matches, 34 of the 48 participating teams are already known.
There are 14 places still to be decided, which will come from matches to be played in the coming weeks and from the remaining playoffs. Of these 14, eight will be obtained directly and six through a series of playoffs with difficult knockout rounds in between.
Qualified teams
Seven European teams, six South American teams, eight Asian teams, one from Oceania and nine African teams, in addition to the three host teams, have already secured their place in the next World Cup. A total of 34 participants have been confirmed. Among them are three debutants: Jordan, Uzbekistan and Cape Verde.
Pending places obtained directly
Of the 14 places still to be decided, eight will be direct. In Europe, five more places will be decided on Tuesday. Spain, Switzerland and Belgium are already in, barring a miracle by their opponents, while Denmark and Scotland and Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina will play each other in two direct duels.
In Concacaf, three direct places for the World Cup will be up for grabs. Suriname, Panama, Jamaica, Curacao, Honduras, Haiti and Costa Rica are the teams that have a chance on the last matchday. From there, as we said, three direct places to the World Cup and two for the international playoffs.
Pending places via playoffs
And if of the 14 places pending, eight are direct, another six will be through the exciting playoffs. The European playoffs already know ten of its 16 members, from which four direct places will come: Slovakia, Ukraine, Ireland, Poland, Italy, Albania, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Northern Ireland (the last three arrive via the Nations League) are already waiting for rivals for those clashes that will be played on March 26 and 31 in single-match knockout rounds.
The international play-off, from which another two places will be decided, also has several participants. Bolivia (CONMEBOL), DR Congo (Africa), New Caledonia (Oceania), Iraq or the United Arab Emirates (Asia) and two CONCACAF teams – yet to be decided – will be the participants.
The unprecedented 48-team World Cup is already beginning to take shape. There are surprises on all continents and the excitement of modest and inexperienced teams that, for a few weeks, will be able to experience the sensations of playing in the most important tournament in the world of football.
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