With 42 of the 48 places for the 2026 World Cup already taken, the Guardian article gives a clear snapshot of which countries are in and how qualification looks by region.
Africa (CAF)
Qualified (9):
- Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast.
- DR Congo will play in the intercontinental playoffs for an extra chance to qualify.
Asia (AFC)
Qualified (8):
- Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.
- Jordan and Uzbekistan will both be at a World Cup for the first time.
- Iraq head to the intercontinental playoffs.
Europe (UEFA)
Qualified group winners (12):
- England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland.
- The remaining four European places will be decided in UEFA playoffs, involving teams such as Italy and Ukraine.
North & Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF)
Qualified:
- Hosts (automatic): USA, Canada, Mexico.
- Through qualifying: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama.
- Curaçao are debutants and the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup finals.
- Jamaica and Suriname go into the intercontinental playoffs.
South America (CONMEBOL)
Qualified (6):
- Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay.
- Bolivia have booked a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.
Oceania (OFC)
Qualified:
- New Zealand took Oceania’s automatic place.
- New Caledonia will play in the intercontinental playoffs.
Debut Nations and What’s Left
First-time World Cup qualifiers:
- Cape Verde (Africa)
- Curaçao (CONCACAF)
- Jordan (Asia)
- Uzbekistan (Asia)
What’s still to come:
- Four spots from UEFA playoffs.
- Two spots from the six-team intercontinental playoffs (involving DR Congo, Iraq, Bolivia, Jamaica, Suriname and New Caledonia).
