2026 World Cup tracker: Who's qualified, how many spots are left?

Seven out of a possible 48 nations have booked their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically included as co-hosts. By the end of 2025, we'll know 42 of the 48 participants. The FIFA qualifying cycle ends in March 2026, when the last remaining spots are decided. Below, we're keeping track of every team that's confirmed its place in the supersized tournament so far.

What's the breakdown?

*The final two World Cup berths will be determined by inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026. Six teams will take part - two from CONCACAF and one each from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America. The two with the best FIFA ranking will go directly to one of two finals, while the other four will be drawn to play semifinal matches. New Caledonia has already secured the playoff spot for Oceania (OFC). Europe, the largest confederation, has its own playoff process that determines UEFA's final four tournament representatives.

Who's qualified?

Argentina 🇦🇷

• Confederation: CONMEBOL
• Date of qualification: March 25, 2025

The reigning World Cup champion already qualified for the 2026 edition before taking the pitch in Buenos Aires, sealing a place by virtue of Bolivia's goalless draw with Uruguay earlier in the day. There was less at stake in Argentina's much-anticipated qualification tilt with Brazil. However, La Albiceleste took care of business nonetheless, crushing their hated rivals 4-1 to further assert their dominance in South American qualifying. Lionel Scaloni's side will be a popular pick to conquer the globe again despite the fact that talismanic captain Lionel Messi turns 39 before the tournament's group stage is over.

Iran 🇮🇷

• Confederation: AFC
• Date of qualification: March 25, 2025

Iran confirmed its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, and seventh in the history of its men's team program, after racing to 20 points from its first eight matches in the third round of Asian qualifiers. Carlos Queiroz isn't in charge of this latest group, but the rest of the squad will be familiar to many onlookers: Eight of the 11 starters from the World Cup-clinching draw with Uzbekistan are aged 30 or over, including mainstays Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, and Saman Ghoddos.

New Zealand 🇳🇿

• Confederation: OFC
• Date of qualification: March 24, 2025

To the surprise of nobody, New Zealand clinched Oceania's single automatic World Cup berth after winning each of its five qualification matches. The All Whites brushed aside Tahiti, Vanuatu, and Samoa before thumping Fiji 7-0 in the third round's semifinals, then officially punching their ticket to North America with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia. Chris Wood's nine goals during the qualification process are more than twice the total of the second top scorer, fellow Kiwi attacker Elijah Just.

Japan 🇯🇵

• Confederation: AFC
• Date of qualification: March 20, 2025

Japan became the first team to qualify on the pitch for the 2026 World Cup - and did so with three matches to spare - when Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo's sumptuous finishes sunk Bahrain in Saitama. Japan is an early candidate for the World Cup's "dark horse" tag as the Samurai Blue's exciting generation is highlighted by goal-scorers Kamada and Kubo, and the likes of England-based players Kaoru Mitoma, Wataru Endo, and Ao Tanaka.

Mexico 🇲🇽

• Confederation: CONCACAF
• Date of qualification: Feb. 14, 2023 (co-host)

Mexico owes a debt of gratitude to Marco Silva. Raul Jimenez seemed to struggle with confidence after he fractured his skull in November 2020, but Silva has the striker playing with belief and bravery once more at Fulham. Mexico is reaping the rewards. The veteran scored four times as El Tri beat Canada and Panama to win the Nations League, and he could potentially form a potent striker partnership with AC Milan marksman Santiago Gimenez next year.

Canada 🇨🇦

• Confederation: CONCACAF
• Date of qualification: Feb. 14, 2023 (co-host)

American coach Jesse Marsch has been saying the right things to boost his popularity in Canada, but his charm offensive will lose its luster if his team can't score in big games. Beating the United States in the Nations League third-place game helped Marsch's cause, but Canada's 2024 Copa America run certainly wasn't free-scoring, and it should've posed more of a threat against Mexico in the Nations League semifinals. Finding the right strike partner to complement top scorer Jonathan David will be key for Marsch in the buildup to the World Cup.

United States 🇺🇸

• Confederation: CONCACAF
• Date of qualification: Feb. 14, 2023 (co-host)

Mauricio Pochettino is under pressure after the United States failed to deliver Nations League glory following a surprise semifinal defeat to Panama. The USMNT's misery was compounded when it fell to Canada in the third-place game. Pochettino needs to mastermind better performances in June's friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland, but several issues - including underperforming stars and some starters not playing enough for their clubs - could lead to the USMNT disappointing fans on home soil in 2026.

Key dates ahead

June 2-10: World Cup qualifying, UEFA Nations League finals
Sept. 1-9: World Cup qualifying
Oct. 6-14: World Cup qualifying
Nov. 10-18: World Cup qualifying
December 2025: World Cup draw (exact date TBD)
March 23-31, 2026: Final World Cup qualifying matches
June 1-9, 2026: Pre-tournament friendly matches
June 11, 2026: World Cup opening match