A record 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
On Tuesday, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland and Austria secured Europe`s remaining automatic spots. Later, Curaçao, Panama and Haiti secured the three spots available in North and Central America and the Caribbean conference (CONCACAF).
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.
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. New Zealand clinched that in March. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs.
Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the World Cup.
Already qualified
United States, Mexico, Canada (automatically as hosts)
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
South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
North and Central America and the Caribbean
Curaçao, Panama, Haiti.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
