All 48 Teams Confirmed for FIFA World Cup 2026 Following Play-off Conclusion

Kathmandu. The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying play-offs have concluded, finalizing the 48 teams set to compete in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

The 42 teams that had already qualified were placed into their respective groups during the draw held last December. The remaining six spots were filled by the winners of the play-off finals.

As the host nation, the United States was automatically placed in Group D. The U.S. will kick off their campaign on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in California. They will then face Australia before concluding the group stage against Turkey, who qualified after defeating Kosovo on Tuesday.

Canada is in Group B and will begin their tournament on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their final two group stage matches will be against Qatar and Switzerland.

Mexico has the honor of hosting the opening match of the World Cup on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City against South Africa. Co-host Mexico will also face South Korea and the Czech Republic in Group A.

Teams Qualified for World Cup 2026:

• AFC (Asia): Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iraq
• CAF (Africa): Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, DR Congo
• CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean): USA, Canada, Mexico, Curacao, Haiti, Panama
• CONMEBOL (South America): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
• OFC (Oceania): New Zealand
• UEFA (Europe): England, France, Croatia, Norway, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia

World Cup 2026 Format

The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Each team will play three matches within their group to determine who advances to the knockout stage.

Following the group stage, 32 teams will enter the knockout phase. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance. In the event of a tie in points, the decision will be made based on goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head record, fair play record, and finally, a drawing of lots.

FIFA has introduced some changes for this World Cup. To maintain competitive balance, two paths to the semifinals have been created, ensuring that the top two seeded teams, if they win their respective groups, will not meet before the final. 

For example, Spain is the top-seeded team in the tournament, while defending champion Argentina is ranked second. These two nations have been placed on opposite paths. The same rule applies to France (third) and England (fourth), ensuring the top four teams will not face each other until the semifinals if they win their groups.

As in all other World Cups, teams from the same continental confederation, except for Europe (e.g., Brazil and Uruguay), have not been placed in the same group.

• World Cup 2026 Groups

Group A
1. Mexico
2. South Africa
3. South Korea
4. Czechia (Czech Republic)

Group B
1. Canada
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Qatar
4. Switzerland

Group C
1. Brazil
2. Morocco
3. Haiti
4. Scotland

Group D
1. USA
2. Paraguay
3. Australia
4. Turkey

Group E
1. Germany
2. Curacao
3. Ivory Coast
4. Ecuador

Group F
1. Netherlands
2. Japan
3. Sweden
4. Tunisia

Group G
1. Belgium
2. Egypt
3. Iran
4. New Zealand

Group H
1. Spain
2. Cape Verde
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Uruguay

Group I
1. France
2. Senegal
3. Iraq
4. Norway

Group J
1. Argentina
2. Algeria
3. Austria
4. Jordan

Group K
1. Portugal
2. DR Congo
3. Uzbekistan
4. Colombia

Group L
1. England
2. Croatia
3. Ghana
4. Panama