World Cup 2026: 13 countries already qualified!

The qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are advancing rapidly, and thirteen national teams have already punched their tickets for the final tournament, following the recent qualifications of Brazil and Ecuador.

This edition is set to be historic: for the first time ever, the tournament will be co-hosted by three nations – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – and will feature 48 teams, up from 32 in previous editions. This expansion promises an even more open and fiercely contested competition.

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, marking the tournament’s return to its traditional summer slot after the winter edition held in Qatar in 2022.

How did Brazil and Ecuador qualify?

Under the guidance of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil clinched a crucial victory over Paraguay (1-0) on matchday 16 of the South American qualifiers, thereby securing their place at the World Cup.

Ecuador, meanwhile, earned a decisive draw against Peru, which was enough to guarantee their qualification. They join reigning champions Argentina among the South American teams already through.

Teams qualified so far for the 2026 World Cup

Here are the teams that have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup:

• Host countries: United States, Canada, Mexico
  
• South America (CONMEBOL): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador
  
• Asia (AFC): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, South Korea, Australia
  
• Oceania (OFC): New Zealand
  

For the first time in its history, the World Cup will feature 48 teams, with allocations determined by FIFA: 16 spots for Europe, 9 for Africa, 8 for Asia, 6 for South America, 6 for the CONCACAF region (including the host nations), 1 for Oceania, and 2 via intercontinental playoffs.

Also read: Will Lionel Messi be at the 2026 World Cup? ...his friend Suárez responds!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.