Team Moniker Method of Qualification Date of Qualification (GMT+8) Total Times Qualified (including 2026) Last Time Qualified Past World Cup Best Finish
CANADA CanMNT/Maple Leafs HOSTS February 14, 2023 3 2022 Group Stage (1986 and 2022)
MEXICO El Tri HOSTS February 14, 2023 18 2022 Quarterfinals (1970 and 1986)
UNITED STATES USMNT HOSTS February 14, 2023 12 2022  Semifinals (1930)
IRAN Team Melli AFC third round Group A winners March 25, 2025 7 2022 Group Stage (6 times, latest: 2022) 
UZBEKISTAN White Wolves AFC third round Group A runners-up June 5, 2025 1   — —
SOUTH KOREA Taeguk Warriors AFC third round Group B winners June 5, 2025 12 2022 Semifinals (2002)
JORDAN Al Nashama AFC third round Group B runners-up June 5, 2025 1 — —
JAPAN Samurai Blue AFC third round Group C winners March 20, 2025 8 2022 Round of 16 (2002)
AUSTRALIA Socceroos AFC third round Group C runners-up June 10, 2025 7 2022 Round of 16 (2006, 2022)
ARGENTINA La Albiceleste CONMEBOL winners March 25, 2025 19 2022 Champions (1978,1986, 2022)
BRAZIL A Selecao CONMEBOL fifth place June 10, 2025 23 2022 Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
ECUADOR La Tricolor CONMEBOL runners-up June 10, 2025 5 2022 Round of 16 (2006)
NEW ZEALAND All Whites OFC third round winners March 24, 2025 3 2010 Group Stage (1982,2010)
URUGUAY La Celeste CONMEBOL fourth place September 4, 2025 15 2022 Champions (1930, 1950)
COLOMBIA Los Cafeteros CONMEBOL third place September 4, 2025 7 2018 Quarterfinals (2014)
PARAGUAY La Albirroja CONMEBOL sixth place September 4, 2025 9 2010 Quarterfinals (2010)
MOROCCO Atlas Lions CAF First Round Group E Winners September 5, 2025 7 2022 Semifinals (2022)
TUNISIA Carthage Eagles CAF First Round Group H winners September 8, 2025 7 2022 Group Stage (6 times, latest: 2022)
EGYPT The Pharaohs CAF First Round Group A winners October 8, 2025 4 2018 Round of 16 (1934)
ALGERIA Desert Foxes CAF First Round Group G winners October 9 , 2025 5 2014 Round of 16 (2014)
GHANA Black Stars CAF Second Round Group I winners October 12, 2025 5 2022 Quarterfinals (2010)
CAPE VERDE Blue Sharks CAF First Round Group D winners October 13, 2025 1 — —
SOUTH AFRICA Bafana Bafana CAF First Round Group C winners October 14, 2025 4 2010 Group Stage (3 times, latest: 2010)
QATAR Al-Annabi AFC fourth round Group A winners October 14, 2025 2 2022 Group Stage (2022)
ENGLAND The Three Lions UEFA Group K winners October 14, 2025 17 2022 Champions (1966)
SENEGAL Lions of Teranga CAF first round Group B winners October 14, 2025 4 2022 Round of 16 (2022)
IVORY COAST The Elephants CAF first round Group F winners October 14, 2025 4 2014 Group  Stages (3 times, latest: 2014) 
SAUDI ARABIA Green Falcons AFC fourth round Group B winners October 14, 2025 7 2022 Round of 16 (1994)

CANADA

CanMNT are back in its second-straight World Cup after a winless group stage exit in 2022. This will be Canada’s third overall World Cup appearance, with its first being in 1986. Also known as the “Maple Leafs,” CanMNT hopes to at least get a win and advance in the group stages in front of their hometown fans.

MEXICO

El Tri will host the World Cup for a third time after doing so in 1970 and 1986. This will make Mexico own the most time in hosting the global football showcase. El Tri will be playing in the World Cup for the 18th time, hoping to match, if not top, their quarterfinals finishes in 1970 and 1986.
 

UNITED STATES

The USMNT automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup, being co-hosts with Canada and Mexico. This will be the United States’ 12th overall World Cup appearance and second-straight, as they hope to do better as hosts this time after first staging the event in 1994. The Americans reached the semifinals in 1930 for their best finish in the tournament.

IRAN

Team Melli completed the task of reaching the World Cup after their 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in Tehran on March 25, 2025. That result enabled Iran to make its seventh World Cup appearance overall. The 2026 tournament will mark their fourth-straight World Cup stint in a run that started in 2014.

UZBEKISTAN

History was achieved by the White Wolves, who will play for the World Cup for the first time. Uzbekistan achieved this historic feat after making a top-two finish in the third round of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers on June 5, 2025.

SOUTH KOREA

The Taeguk Warriors continued their impressive streak at the World Cup, securing their place in the 2026 tournament after a 2-0 win over Iraq on June 5, 2025. This will be South Korea’s 11th-straight World Cup appearance, a run that started in 1986 during the time of Cha Bum-kun and Cho Kwang-rae. The Taeguk Warriors qualified for the 2026 edition despite the absence of captain Song Heung-min, relying on substitutes Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu to get the job done.

JORDAN

Al Nashama completed a historic feat after they advanced to the World Cup for the first time, joining Uzbekistan as newcomers to football’s biggest show. Jordan blanked Oman, 3-0, in Muscat before watching Iraq lose to South Korea on June 5, 2025, to earn its place for next year’s global football showcase. Al Nashama finally made their World Cup breakthrough since 1986, when they first started joining the tournament’s qualifiers.

JAPAN

The Samurai Blue are back in the World Cup for the eighth consecutive time – and they did it with plenty to spare. Japan’s 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Saitama on March 20, 2025 enabled them to become the first team to join hosts United States, Canada, and Mexico as the earliest qualifiers for the 2026 tournament. That win assured the Samurai Blue a top two placing in Group C in the third round of the AFC qualifiers with three matches left at the time.

AUSTRALIA

The Socceroos booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on June 10, 2025. This will be Australia’s sixth-straight World Cup appearances but their first direct qualification since 2014. Under new coach Tony Popovic, who took over from Graham Arnold, the Socceroos continued their meteoric rise with a core led by Mathew Leckie and Jackson Irvine.

ARGENTINA

Reigning world champions Argentina return to the 2026 tournament for the 19th time overall and 14th consecutive time. La Albiceleste became the first CONMEBOL team to qualify on March 25, 2025, after Bolivia drew 0-0 against Uruguay, ensuring them of one South America’s six automatic spots to the global football showcase.

BRAZIL

The Selecao return to the World Cup after securing a top six finish in the CONMEBOL June qualifiers. Brazil will maintain their record as the only nation to qualify for every World Cup since 1930. Carlo Ancelotti’s side made it official after their 1-0 victory over Paraguay on June 10, 2025.

ECUADOR

La Tricolor are in their fifth World Cup appearance, thanks to their top six finish at the CONMEBOL qualifiers. Ecuador qualified despite settling for a scoreless draw against Peru in Lima on June 10, 2025. The 2026 edition will mark La Tri’s second-straight appearance after the 2022 tournament.

NEW ZEALAND

The All Whites are back in the World Cup after a 16-year drought after they beat New Caledonia, 3-0, in the OFC qualifying final on March 24, 2025. That win sealed New Zealand’s third World Cup appearance but its first since the 2010 tournament.

URUGUAY

It will be La Celeste playing at the World Cup for a fifth-straight time, thanks to a top six finish among CONMEBOL teams in the September 2025 qualifiers. Uruguay are returning to the big show after posting a 3-0 win over Peru on September 4, 2025. La Celeste seek a deep run in North America in their hopes of winning their third World Cup title and first since 1950.

COLOMBIA

Los Cafeteros are returning to the World Cup after missing out in the 2022 edition. Colombia finished among CONMEBOL’s top six on September 4, 2025, marked by impressive wins over Venezuela, Chile, and Bolivia to seal their ticket.

PARAGUAY

La Albirroja will be playing at football’s biggest global showcase next year after finishing within CONMEBOL’s top six. This marks Paraguay’s eighth overall appearance but the first since 2010, ending a 16-year absence. La Albirroja made it after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador at home on September 4, 2025.

MOROCCO

The Atlas Lions emerged as the first African side to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by ruling the CAF Group E on September 5, 2025. Their 5-0 victory over Niger formalized Morocco’s seventh World Cup appearance and its third-straight after a historic 2022 campaign where they reached the semifinals.

TUNISIA

The Carthage Eagles advanced to the World Cup after their 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on September 8. 2025. That win enabled Tunisia become the second African side to qualify after the September World Cup CAF qualifiers. The Carthage Eagles will play in their third-straight World Cup and seventh overall.

EGYPT

The Pharaohs reached the World Cup after beating Djibouti, 3-0, on October 8, 2025. This enabled Egypt to lead Group A of the World Cup CAF qualifiers with a game to spare. The Pharaohs will take part in only their fourth World Cup appearance but their first since  2018.

ALGERIA

The Desert Foxes advanced to the World Cup after their 3-0 win over Somalia in their Group G matchup. Algeria will be playing in its fifth World Cup but the first since 2014. The Desert Foxes won seven of their first nine qualifiers and drew once to return to football’s biggest showcase.

GHANA

The Black Stars made it to the World Cup after defeating Comoros, 1-0, on October 13, 2025. That victory enabled Ghana to become the fifth African team to advance after topping Group I of  the World Cup CAF Qualifiers. The Black Stars are participating in their fifth World Cup and second-straight since 2022.

CAPE VERDE

The Blue Sharks made history by advancing to the World Cup for the first time in history. They defeated Eswatini, 3-0, to top Group D in the CAF Qualifiers. Cape Verde became the second-least populous country to reach football’s biggest stage after Iceland and Russia in 2018.

SOUTH AFRICA

Bafana Bafana advanced to the World Cup after defeating Rwanda, 3-0, on October 14, 2025. It will be South Africa’s fourth World Cup appearance but first since 2010, where it placed 20th. That win enabled Bafana Bafana to top Group C on the final day of the CAF qualifiers.

QATAR

Al-Annabi reached football’s biggest show after pulling off a 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates on the final day of the AFC qualifiers on October 14, 2025. That win enabled Qatar to register its second-straight World Cup appearance since hosting the event in 2022, when it placed 32nd.

ENGLAND

The Three Lions are back at the World Cup after their 5-0 win over Latvia to rule Group K of the UEFA qualifiers on October 14, 2025. England will be playing in football’s global showcase for the eighth-straight time and 17th overall. Since their 1982 World Cup stint, the Three Lions only missed the big show once in 1994.

SENEGAL

The Lions of Teranga return to the World Cup after their 4-0 decision over Mauritania on the final day of the CAF qualifiers on October 14, 2025. That win enabled Senegal to top Group B over Congo DR as it will make its third-straight World Cup appearance. Overall, the Lions of Teranga are playing for the fourth time in football’s global showcase.

IVORY COAST

The Elephants reached the World Cup after they beat Kenya, 3-0, on the final day of the CAF qualifiers on October 14, 2025. That win enabled Ivory Coast to advance to football’s biggest show for the fourth time but the first since 2014. The Elephants topped Group F over Gabon to advance.

SAUDI ARABIA

The Green Falcons qualified for the World Cup despite being held to a scoreless draw against Iraq on October 14, 2025. Saudi Arabia still topped Group B on the final day of the AFC qualifiers despite the result due to more goals against Indonesia, the other team in their group. The Green Falcons will be playing in their third-straight World Cup and seventh overall since their initial stint in 1994.