FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 participating teams

The FIFA World Cup in 2026 will feature 48 teams, including the host nations Canada, Mexico, and the United States. A total of 45 additional teams will qualify for the tournament. Europe will send the most teams. There are 12 automatic spots for European countries, plus four more teams will qualify through a playoff system. Russia is currently suspended, reducing the competition to 54 UEFA nations. In South America, all 10 countries will compete for spots. The top six will qualify directly, while the seventh team will enter an intercontinental playoff. For North and Central America, known as CONCACAF, three of six automatic slots are reserved for the hosts. This leaves three spots available in the qualifiers, with two more entering playoffs. Africa, represented by CAF, has nine automatic places for group winners. One additional team will join through playoffs involving the best runners-up. Asia’s AFC will have eight teams qualify directly. Additionally, one team will enter the intercontinental playoffs. Oceania will contribute one automatic qualifier and one playoff spot. The qualification process will determine which nations join the hosts in what will be the largest World Cup to date.