With less than a year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 17 countries have now confirmed their places at the biggest football event in the world.
Morocco became the first African country to qualify for the tournament after a stunning 5-0 win over Niger Republic on Friday. The victory puts the Atlas Lions at the top of Group E with 15 points from six games — a perfect record and two matches still to play.
The North African giants, who made history in Qatar 2022 as the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, will be returning to the global stage with high expectations. Their dominant performance in the qualifiers reflects their ambition to go even further in 2026.
From South America, three more countries—Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay secured their tickets to the tournament following Thursday’s penultimate qualifying fixtures. They now join fellow South American heavyweights Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador, who had already booked their spots earlier.
This brings the total number of South American representatives to six, maintaining the continent’s strong presence in the global tournament.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, up from the previous 32. As co-hosts, all three countries automatically qualify, giving the CONCACAF region an early presence in the tournament.
The expanded format also means more opportunities for countries across all continents, including increased slots for Africa and Asia.
From Asia, Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, and Australia have secured qualification. Their consistent performances in the Asian qualifiers demonstrate the growing competitiveness in the region.
New Zealand also earned a spot from the Oceania region, continuing their tradition of participation in recent World Cup tournaments.
With the qualification of these 17 nations, the race intensifies for the remaining 31 spots, as regional qualifiers continue across Europe, Africa, Asia, and other confederations.
For African football fans, all attention is now on whether continental powerhouses like Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, and Cameroon will join Morocco in flying the African flag in 2026.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, in particular, will be under pressure to qualify after missing out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The final round of African qualifiers is expected to take place in the coming months, with fierce competition for the continent’s nine direct slots and one playoff spot for the expanded tournament.
As the road to 2026 continues, excitement builds across the globe for what promises to be the most inclusive and competitive World Cup in history.
