The 2026 World Cup will have more teams than ever before—48 in total! New Zealand just qualified, making it the second team to secure a spot, after Japan did it five days earlier. The tournament starts on June 11, 2026, and the final will be on July 19. Most teams will earn their places through qualifying matches held in their regions, while two spots will be filled through international playoffs happening in March 2026.
Here’s how many teams from each region will join the tournament:
– Asia: 8 teams directly, plus 1 in the playoffs.
– Africa: 9 teams directly, plus 1 in the playoffs.
– North and Central America + Caribbean: 3 teams directly, plus 2 in the playoffs.
– South America: 6 teams directly, plus 1 in the playoffs.
– Oceania: New Zealand has one guaranteed spot, and they could get more if New Caledonia does well in the playoffs.
– Europe: 16 teams.
The three host countries—United States, Mexico, and Canada—automatically qualify and fill three of the North and Central American spots.
Leave a Reply