RIYADH — With the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers in full swing, the global football landscape is shifting as teams battle for a coveted spot in the expanded 48-nation tournament. As of September 6, 2025, 17 teams have already secured their place, leaving dozens of nations across five confederations vying for the remaining spots.
Here’s a breakdown of the current qualification scenarios as the final stages of the campaign begin to heat up.
Qualified Teams
The field of 48 is slowly taking shape, with 17 teams already qualified. The hosts—United States, Mexico, and Canada—were the first to secure their spots. Since then, nations from four different confederations have joined them.
Hosts (3):
- Canada
- Mexico
- United States
CONMEBOL (South America):
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
AFC (Asia):
- Australia
- Iran
- Japan
- Jordan
- South Korea
- Uzbekistan
CAF (Africa):
- Morocco
OFC (Oceania):
- New Zealand
Continental Scenarios
UEFA (Europe): No Teams Qualified Yet
Europe’s qualifying campaign is still in its early stages, with Matchday 5 concluding this week. With 16 direct slots available, the competition remains fierce. Key results from the latest round of matches include Northern Ireland’s surprising 3-1 victory over Luxembourg and Slovakia’s 2-0 win against Germany in Group A. France also began their campaign with a crucial 2-0 away win against Ukraine in Group D. The 12 group winners will qualify directly for the tournament, with the runners-up advancing to a playoff round. The race for those top spots is just getting started.
CONMEBOL (South America): All Direct Slots Secured
South America’s qualification process is the first to conclude, with all six of its direct qualifying spots now filled. The last round of matches saw Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay punch their tickets. Attention now turns to the fight for the inter-confederation playoff spot, with Venezuela and Bolivia mathematically in the running. Peru and Chile have both been eliminated from contention.
AFC (Asia): Final Round Underway
The six teams already qualified from Asia did so by finishing in the top two of their respective groups in the third round. The race for the final two direct spots is currently in its fourth round, with six teams competing. Those teams are split into two groups, with the winners of each group securing a direct slot. The two runners-up will then play each other for the right to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs.
CAF (Africa): Morocco Secures a Spot
The African qualifiers are nearing their conclusion, with Morocco becoming the first team from the continent to secure one of its nine direct places. The Atlas Lions, who were semi-finalists in the 2022 World Cup, cruised through their campaign. Other powerhouse teams like Egypt and South Africa are leading their respective groups and are on track to clinch qualification in the upcoming weeks.
CONCACAF (North America, Central America, and Caribbean): Hosts Await Their Guests
With Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically qualified, the focus is on the remaining three direct spots. The third round of qualifying for the region has just begun, with 12 teams divided into three groups of four. The winner of each group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the two best runners-up will earn a spot in the inter-confederation playoffs.
OFC (Oceania): New Zealand Clinches Single Spot
The qualification process in Oceania is complete, with New Zealand having already secured the confederation’s single direct spot in the tournament.
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