The 2026 World Cup will kick off on June 11 next summer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’ll be the first time in tournament history that 48 teams compete. Fans everywhere are bracing for an extended soccer celebration, with an expanded group stage and extra knockout rounds adding to the anticipation.
Even though qualification is still in progress in most regions, a handful of teams have already locked in their spots. Co-hosts automatically qualify, so the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are on the list. Meanwhile, Asia and Oceania have delivered their top performers a bit early. Japan became the first nation to qualify after a decisive 2-0 victory over Bahrain in March, and New Zealand claimed Oceania’s guaranteed spot by beating New Caledonia 3-0. Iran sealed its berth with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in Tehran.
Below is a quick rundown of who’s in.
| Country | Region | Reason for Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| United States (co-host) | CONCACAF | Automatic (Host) |
| Canada (co-host) | CONCACAF | Automatic (Host) |
| Mexico (co-host) | CONCACAF | Automatic (Host) |
| Japan | AFC | Secured top spot |
| Iran | AFC | Advanced in qualifiers |
| New Zealand | OFC | Won Oceania’s competition |
This World Cup promises to break records. The final two places will be decided through an intercontinental playoff in March 2026, adding even more tension to the qualification race. Teams from South America, Europe, Africa, and the remaining North American and Asian contenders are still vying for their chance to join the tournament.
While the U.S. and its co-hosts await the rest of the field, nations across the globe will keep battling through 2025 and early 2026 to earn their place on the sport’s biggest stage. Fans can look forward to an action-packed run-up as more slots are filled and underdogs try to defy the odds.
