Five more European nations sealed their tickets on Tuesday, turning a tight qualifying cycle into something far more frantic. Austria, Belgium, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland all crossed the line as group winners, pushing the global total to 42 teams confirmed for the 2026 World Cup across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The field is filling fast. The pressure is rising faster.
Europe
Europe now has twelve confirmed teams: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland.
Behind them sits a playoff list that reads like a minefield: Slovakia, Denmark, Turkey, Poland, Bosnia, Italy, Ukraine, Wales, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Albania, Kosovo, and the Republic of Ireland. Four spots for all of them. And no safety net, Europe is the only continent without an intercontinental playoff slot.
Group winners are already in. Everyone else is fighting for breath.
Photo Credit (Sky Sports)
South America
No surprises among the qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay all made it.
The only twist came from Bolivia, who shocked the region by beating Brazil 1–0 on the final day to steal the seventh spot and drop into the intercontinental playoff. One more shot to get in. And nothing is guaranteed.
Asia
Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Uzbekistan all wrapped up qualification from the third round.
Iraq added drama by edging out the UAE in the Asian playoff, pushing themselves into the intercontinental route. One more tie will decide their fate.
Iraq added drama by edging out the UAE in the Asian playoff, pushing themselves into the intercontinental route. One more tie will decide their fate.
Africa
Africa’s nine direct spots are filled: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.
Nigeria didn’t make that list, one of the biggest shocks of the cycle. DR Congo beat them in the African playoff and now carries the continent’s hopes into the intercontinental playoff.
Nigeria didn’t make that list, one of the biggest shocks of the cycle. DR Congo beat them in the African playoff and now carries the continent’s hopes into the intercontinental playoff.
Photo Credit (Ghana FA )
Concacaf
Canada, Mexico, and the United States were already in as hosts. Now Panama, Curacao, and Haiti join them after winning their third-round groups. Three new faces. Three new stories.
Jamaica and Suriname head into the intercontinental playoff, hoping to navigate one final path.
Jamaica and Suriname head into the intercontinental playoff, hoping to navigate one final path.
Oceania
New Zealand were never in doubt. They beat New Caledonia 3–0 to claim Oceania’s only direct place.
New Caledonia move into the intercontinental playoff, one of the six teams fighting for the final two spots in March 2026.
New Caledonia move into the intercontinental playoff, one of the six teams fighting for the final two spots in March 2026.
Photo Credit ( Getty Images)
So who’s left?
Forty-two teams in. Two spots reserved for the final intercontinental showdown. Four more up for grabs in Europe’s playoff gauntlet.
One more international window and the entire picture breaks open.
Which teams are backing?
One more international window and the entire picture breaks open.
Which teams are backing?
