Two nations, Uzbekistan and Jordan, have made football history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the very first time. Their qualification for the 2026 tournament marks a major milestone, not only for the two countries but also for Asian football as a whole.
With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, the 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These three nations automatically qualify as hosts. They are joined by Argentina, Japan, Iran, New Zealand, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Jordan — bringing the confirmed teams so far to ten.
Uzbekistan’s place at the 2026 World Cup was sealed after a hard-fought 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates, followed by South Korea’s 2-0 win over Iraq. That result made it impossible for other teams in the group to overtake the Uzbeks, who now qualify for the tournament after years of heartbreak and near-misses.
Ranked 57th in the world, Uzbekistan has been a regular presence in the Asian Cup since 1996, progressing to the knockout stages in every edition since 2004. They reached the semi-finals in 2011 and made the quarter-finals last year. But qualifying for the World Cup had always eluded them—until now.
Their closest attempt came in 2006. Uzbekistan won the first leg of a playoff against Bahrain 1-0. But due to a refereeing error, FIFA ordered a replay of the match. They lost the replay on away goals and missed a golden opportunity to play in Germany.
Now, with a population of over 36 million and a growing football infrastructure, Uzbekistan can finally take its place on football’s biggest stage.
Jordan’s qualification came under dramatic circumstances. Their 3-0 win over Oman would not have been enough on its own, but South Korea’s victory over Iraq ensured Jordan finished in the top two of their group. This secured a direct ticket to the World Cup.
Jordan, currently ranked 62nd in the world, has participated in seven World Cup qualification campaigns since 1986. The closest they came before now was in 2014, when they lost an intercontinental playoff to Uruguay.
Their recent rise in form was evident during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, where they finished as runners-up—a clear sign that Jordanian football was on the rise.
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams. Each continent has its own qualification system.
Asia now has eight direct qualification spots and one intercontinental playoff spot. Five teams have already qualified: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. Australia is likely to join them, with more teams to be decided through the third and fourth qualifying rounds.
The top six teams qualify directly, and one enters a playoff. Argentina has already secured its place. Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, and Colombia are currently in qualifying positions, with Venezuela holding the playoff spot.
Africa has nine automatic spots and one playoff slot. No African team has yet qualified. The top team from each of nine groups will go through automatically. Teams like Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria are among the favourites to qualify.
Apart from hosts USA, Canada, and Mexico, three more spots are up for grabs through qualifiers. Two additional teams can qualify via intercontinental playoffs.
Europe will have 16 representatives. Twelve group winners will qualify directly, while the remaining four spots will be decided through playoffs, including top UEFA Nations League teams that didn’t qualify automatically.
New Zealand has already qualified automatically. New Caledonia, who finished second, will go into the intercontinental playoffs.
The 2026 World Cup is already shaping up to be a more inclusive tournament, with more countries getting their first shot at global football glory. The inclusion of Uzbekistan and Jordan reflects the broadening reach of football beyond its traditional strongholds in Europe and South America.
As qualifying continues into 2025, more first-time qualifiers could still join. For now, though, Uzbekistan and Jordan will be proudly preparing to walk out under the bright lights of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Their stories are not just about football—they’re about resilience, national pride, and breaking new ground.
