8 debutants, grand finalist out: Full 2026 World Cup team list
World Cup 2026 (photo: Getty Images)
The qualifying cycle for the upcoming World Cup has concluded. After the final intercontinental play-off matches, where DR Congo and Iraq triumphed, the full list of tournament teams has been finalized, according to broadcasts on the Ukraone's MEGOGO media service.
World Cup format and geography
The upcoming global championship will be the largest in history: for the first time, 48 national teams will compete for the trophy.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. All participants are divided into 12 groups of four teams each.
Qualification surprises and play-off participants
Although the main part of the draw took place earlier, six vacant spots were filled by the play-off winners.
Notably, Sweden qualified after competing in the same bracket as Ukraine.
A real shock was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry, which left the highly decorated Italy out of the tournament.
Additionally, Iraq (for the first time in 40 years) and DR Congo reached the World Cup via the play-offs.
Team distribution by groups
The organizers released the final composition of all groups, where favorites will face ambitious newcomers:
- Group A: Mexico (host), South Korea, South Africa, Czech Republic
- Group B: Canada (host), Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Group C: Brazil (record title holder), Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
- Group D: USA (host), Australia, Paraguay, Turkey
- Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, debutant Curaçao
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
- Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand (Iran’s participation is currently uncertain due to geopolitical issues)
- Group H: Spain (current European champion), Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
- Group I: France (2022 finalist), Senegal, Norway, Iraq
- Group J: Argentina (current champion), Austria, Algeria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo (the last two teams are World Cup debutants)
- Group L: England, Croatia (two-time recent medalist), Panama, Ghana
A notable feature of this edition is the high number of debutants.
For the first time in history, Curaçao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Cabo Verde will play on the global stage.
At the same time, for teams like Panama and Haiti, this will be only their second World Cup appearance.
