The FIFA 2026 male World Cup is approaching next year and the qualifications are underway. Most of the largest national teams in the world have not yet reserved space at the first World Cup of 48 teams in the history of competition, after FIFA decided to develop from the old format of 32 teams that had been in place since the 1998 World Cup. The 2026 edition will start on June 11, 2026 and will end on July 19 at Metlife Stadium in New York.
The most awaited football tournament in the world will be organized jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The European Confederation (UEFA) is guaranteed 16 slots of the 48 teams, while the African Confederation (CAF) has new and Asian (AFC) has eight. There will also be a minimum of six each from South America (Conmebol) and the Confederation of Football of the North, Central and Caribbean Confederation (Concacaf). In addition to that, for the first time in history, the Confederation of Oceania Football (OFC) has a guaranteed sub -sub -subspea while the two remaining points will be decided through intercontinental qualifying series.
Already qualified for the 2026 World Cup
- United States: 2026 World Cup hosts
- Mexico: 2026 World Cup hosts
- Canada: 2026 World Cup hosts
- Japan: Third AFC qualification round
- New Zealand: Oceania Champions
- Argentina: Conmebol Qualification
- Iran: Third AFC qualification round
- Uzbekistan: third AFC qualification round
- South Korea: third AFC qualification round
- Jordan: AFC qualifying third round
- Australia: Third AFC qualification round
Latest qualifications?
With the UEFA qualifiers which only begin, no European national team will be confirmed soon, but Uzbekistan has officially qualified for the first time at the World Cup after a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates Thursday in the third AFC qualification round, just like Jordan and South Korea, thanks to a 2-0 victory against IRAQ for the warriors TAEGEUK.
Lionel Messi Argentina won its place for 2026 when the reigning champions will enter as one of the favorites.
Who are the heavy favorites to qualify for Europe?
Eight national teams will qualify for the World Cup by winning their groups in the first stage of qualification. Spain, 2024 European champions, is one of the great favorites to ultimately raise the World Cup trophy, with their stars and young talents like the Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona, which will also be a candidate for the MVP of the World Cup. Germany, which recently won the World Cup in 2014, is also playing well, while England will play its first tournament under the new manager Thomas Tuchel, who took care of the three Lions after the departure of Gareth Southgate after losing his second consecutive Euro final against Spain.
England, which is now starting a new era under Tuchel, should also be among the candidates to win the final victory alongside France, who will also see the manager Didier Deschamps leaving the national team, ending a race that started in 2012 and includes the victory of the 2018 World Cup and the completion of the final in 2022. The 2026 World Cup would be the last chance to win the Blues with the Blues with in the world. Portugal should also be part of the World Cup with Cristiano Ronaldo probably playing its last major tournament, while the Netherlands are also one of the most talented teams in Europe to be part of the competition with the former manager of FC Barcelona, Ronald Koeman, leading the national team after losing against England in the semi-final of the semi-final of the semi-final of the 2024 euros.
Switzerland may not be the caliber of other teams that should go to qualification, but will play in group B against Sweden, Slovenia and Kosovo and if things go in the right direction, it will play the World Cup because it is the best team of this qualification group. Finally and above all, Italy must be part of the most important football tournament in the world after missing the last two World Cups for the first time in their history. After winning the euros of 2020, the mission of Luciano Spalletti is to bring the Azzurri where they belong after such a great disappointment. The last appearance of Italy in a direct elimination match of the World Cup took place in 2006, when they won their last World Cup after defeating France in penalties.
Who are European bubble teams?
Although we have already mentioned the eight teams that should be there, and it will be a great disappointment if one of them does not go to the 2026 World Cup, there are others who will have to fight much more to obtain one of the 16 places available for the national UEFA teams. After a disappointing UEFA 2024 Euro, Croatia will be called upon to react and qualify for the World Cup, like Denmark which lost against Germany in the round of 16 in this tournament.
There will be many expectations both on Austria and Belgium as two teams that have been eliminated in the final of 16 from the last euros and must already react in qualification. Belgium, in particular, has decided to separate from the former coach Domenico Tedesco and appointed Rudi Garcia to start a new cycle, but it must deliver in a short time.
Erling Haaland’s Norway is also a team to monitor, but they have a good chance because they are in the qualification group of Israel, Estonia, Moldova and one between Italy and Germany, while the E group will see a great exclusion between Turkey and Georgia, because they were sown in the same group of Spain or the Netherlands (according to the current UEFA League League). Poland should also qualify during the playoffs while Serbia and Hungary will also fight for a place in the World Cup.