Countdown to 2026 World Cup: Teams Qualify for Historic Tournament

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia — The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a record 48 teams, expanding from the previous 32, with New Zealand and Japan becoming the first two nations to qualify, excluding the three host nations. The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, in North America, with the final scheduled for July 19.

Forty-three teams will earn their spots in the tournament through continental qualifiers, while an additional two will compete in intercontinental playoffs involving six teams set to occur in March 2026. The distribution of spots across confederations is significant: Asia will receive eight direct slots plus one playoff berth, Africa will have nine slots plus one in the playoffs, and CONCACAF will be allocated three direct spots along with two playoff opportunities.

South America secures six direct places, sending one additional team into the playoffs. Europe will have 16 teams definitely participating, bolstering the competition level at the tournament.

So far, the three host nations have secured automatic qualifications: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. As of March 20, Japan qualified by defeating Bahrain 2-0, while New Zealand guaranteed its spot by winning 3-0 against New Caledonia on March 24.

In a recent match, Italy faced elimination scares after a disappointing performance against Germany in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals. The Italian squad fell behind 3-0 before rallying for a 3-3 draw but succumbed 5-4 on aggregate. Coach Luciano Spalletti lamented a critical second goal that could have easily been avoided, noting, “The second goal killed us.”

With Italy now entering a challenging grouping for World Cup qualifiers, it must secure a top position to guarantee direct entry into the tournament. Any slip-ups could lead to a repechage scenario, similar to that which cost Italy its place in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

As qualifying progresses, teams like Norway have shown strong performances, securing a dominant 5-0 victory over Moldova. Norway leads the group that includes Italy, which has not yet begun its qualifying matches.

Peru comes off an inspiring win against Bolivia and heads into a must-win match against Venezuela in what has been dubbed an essential showdown. The latter has struggled in recent qualifiers and must start winning to maintain hopes of attending the 2026 World Cup.

Fernando Batista, the Venezuelan coach, acknowledged the pressure, noting, “We have a final coming up on Tuesday,” while both teams gear up for what promises to be a high-stakes encounter on the pitch.

Lastly, Colombia and Paraguay will clash in Barranquilla, with the match crucial for both teams in their quest to qualify for the World Cup. Colombia sits in sixth place, needing a victory to stay in contention, while Paraguay aims to extend its unbeaten streak under coach Gustavo Alfaro.