TheWorld Cup's fieldhas expanded to 48 for the 2026 tournament, offering the planet's biggest platform to teams that may not have been regular qualifiers under the previous 32-country format.
With the Dec. 5 draw in Washington D.C., 42 teams have qualified for next summer's World Cup in North America, with four countries set to make their debut on the big stage.
Cape Verde (Africa),Curaçao(Concacaf), Jordan (Asia) and Uzbekistan (Asia) have already booked their spots, with Curaçao becoming the smallest country to ever qualify.
There is room for more newcomers among the six remaining bids, with New Caledonia (Oceania) and Suriname (Concacaf) among the six teams vying for two spots in the Matchintercontinental qualifying playoffs. In Europe, Kosovo and Albania advanced to the playoffs, each hoping to reach the World Cup for the first time.
Brazil – 23rd appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
United States of America – 12th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Mexico – 18th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
England – 17th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Portugal – ninth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
France – 17th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Spain – 17th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Iran – seventh appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Switzerland – 13th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Croatia – seventh appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Australia – seventh appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Morocco – seventh appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Austria – eighth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ecuador – fifth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Senegal – fourth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
South Korea – 12th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Japan – eighth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Colombia – seventh appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Netherlands – 12th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Germany – 21st appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Belgium – 15th appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Canada – third appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Uzbekistan – first appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Jordan – first appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Tunisia – seventh appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
South Africa – fourth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ivory Coast – fourth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Scotland – ninth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Algeria – fifth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
New Zealand – third appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Paraguay – ninth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Egypt – fourth appearance " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Cape Verde – first appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Qatar – second appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Norway – fourth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Panama – second appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Curacao – first appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ghana – fifth appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Haiti – second appearance" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far
Brazil– 23rd appearance
World Cup first time qualifiers for 2026
Of the 42 teams officially qualified heading into the draw, three countries are playing in their first World Cup next summer:
Cape Verde
Jordan
Uzbekistan
Still in the running for an inaugural World Cup bid:
New Caledonia
Suriname
Kosovo
Albania
Most World Cup appearances
The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of the tournament and Brazil is the only team that has played in every single one.
Here's a look at the most successful teams (including 2026 World Cup):
Brazil: 23
Germany: 21
Argentina: 19
Italy: 18 (can still qualify for 2026)
Mexico: 18
Spain: 17
England: 17
France: 17
Belgium: 15
Uruguay: 15
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:World Cup 2026 teams qualified first time include Curacao
