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Published Nov 19, 2025 • 2 minute read
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A record 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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On Tuesday, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland and Austria secured Europe’s remaining automatic spots.
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Later, Curacao, Panama and Haiti secured the three spots available in North and Central America and the Caribbean conference (CONCACAF).
Curacao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Curacao, the country has a population of 156,115 persons as of last January. Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000 was the smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.
A total of 43 teams will earn places through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will secure places in the intercontinental playoffs featuring six teams. The three host countries automatically qualify.
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The breakdown
Asia has eight direct places and one — Iraq — in the six-team intercontinental playoff to be played in Mexico in March .
Africa has nine direct spots plus one — Congo — in the intercontinental playoff.
North and Central America and the Caribbean received three direct berths (plus the three host nations) and another two spots — Jamaica and Suriname — in the intercontinental playoffs.
South America has six direct spots and will send another team — Bolivia — to the intercontinental playoffs.
Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot, going to New Zealand. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs.
Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the World Cup. The final four will be determined in playoffs in March.
Already qualified
Hosts:
Canada
Mexico
United States
Africa:
Algeria
Cape Verde
Egypt
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Morocco
Senegal
South Africa
Tunisia
Asia:
Australia
Iran
Japan
Jordan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Uzbekistan
Europe:
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
England
France
Germany
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Scotland
Spain
Switzerland
Oceania:
New Zealand
North and Central America and the Caribbean:
Curacao
Panama
Haiti
South America:
Argentina
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Uruguay
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