Who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

AP:

A RECORD 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Morocco became the first African country to qualify for next summer’s tournament by beating Niger 5-0 on Friday night. The Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals in the 2022 edition.

Forty-three teams will get their spots through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will secure their places in the intercontinental play-offs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026. The three host countries automatically qualify.

The breakdown

Asia will have eight direct places and one in the intercontinental play-off.

Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental play-off.

North and Central America and the Caribbean get three direct berths (plus the three host nations) and another two spots in the intercontinental play-offs.

South America has six direct spots and will send another team to the intercontinental play-offs.

Oceania, for the first time, has a guaranteed spot — New Zealand clinched that in March. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental play-offs.

Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the next World Cup.

Already qualified

Concacaf

United States, Mexico, Canada (qualified automatically as hosts)

Africa

Morocco (qualified on September 5)

Asia

Japan (qualified on March 20)

Iran (qualified on March 25)

Jordan (qualified on June 5)

South Korea (qualified on June 5)

Uzbekistan (qualified on June 5)

Australia (qualified on June 10)

Oceania

New Zealand (qualified on March 24)

South America

Argentina (qualified on March 25)

Brazil (qualified on June 10)

Ecuador (qualified on June 10)

Uruguay (qualified on September 4)

Colombia (qualified on September 4)

Paraguay (qualified on September 4)