Japan is first nation to win a spot in 2026 World Cup and defending champs could be next
It’s still 452 days until the first 2026 World Cup game will be played in Kansas City, but qualifying is in full swing.
Japan became the first team to win a spot in next year’s World Cup with its 2-0 win in Bahrain. The Asian Football Confederation will have eight nations in next year’s World Cup with a chance to get a ninth in the field via an inter-continental playoff.
Here is how many nations from other confederations will qualify for the 48-team World Cup.
- Africa: Nine teams with one possible through the intercontinental playoff.
- CONCACAF: As host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico all are automatically in the World Cup. Three others can qualify with two more possible via the intercontinental playoff.
- Europe: 16 nations qualify.
- South America: Six countries are guaranteed with one possible via an intercontinental playoff.
- Oceania: One is guaranteed with another potentially qualifying via the intercontinental playoff.
Qualifying in Europe begins Friday, while South America could see its first qualifier come this weekend.
Argentina, which won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, can book its spot in the 2026 World Cup by as early as next week.
The Oceania automatic qualifier will be determined Monday. New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia are in the running for that spot.
In Africa, qualifying is about halfway finished and continues this weekend.
Madagascar, Tunisia, Mozambique, Gabon, Morocco, Benin, Egypt, Sudan and Cape Verde are currently atop their groups.
In Asian qualifying, Iran is on the cusp of booking a spot in the World Cup and South Korea is also leading a group.
The second round of qualifying in CONCACAF will continue in June.
Who is coming to KC?
The World Cup draw is expected to be held in December. At that time, the 48 nations that will take part in the World Cup will be put in 12 groups. Each group stage is a round-robin format and will feature six games. The dates of those games are known, including the matches in Kansas City.
When the draw takes place, we will know which nations are coming to Kansas City in 2026.
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM.
