Qualifying for 2026 World Cup starts this March

The 2026 World Cup is getting closer, with the tournament starting in 15 months. So far, only the United States, Mexico, and Canada have qualified as co-hosts. The complete 48-team roster is yet to be finalized. Starting this week, 169 nations will compete for 45 remaining spots in five qualifying windows throughout the year. By the end of 2025, most of the teams will have been decided. This series of qualifiers will include intense matches across all continents, making for a thrilling build-up to the event. As teams gear up for upcoming matches, the World Cup qualifying landscape varies. For example, teams like Spain are seen as strong contenders despite not having played any qualifiers yet, while others like Uzbekistan and Egypt have already secured key victories. The qualification process is managed by FIFA, which allocates slots to different regions. Europe will have 16 spots, while other confederations like Africa and Asia will have 9 and 8 spots respectively. Following the group stages, the top teams will qualify directly, while others may have to fight for playoff positions. In South America, the competition is heating up as teams like Brazil and Argentina jockey for positions. Japan, Iran, and South Korea are contenders in Asia, while teams in Africa such as Egypt and Nigeria are also looking to secure their spots. In Oceania, New Zealand is set to face Fiji and New Caledonia, while in North America, qualifiers will resume in June after a break. Each qualifying region presents unique challenges and formats, shaping the road to the 2026 World Cup.