The October international break ended with the confirmation of seven teams for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, and Ivory Coast advanced in the African qualifiers, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar secured spots in Asia. England, from Europe, completed the achievements by winning for the eighth consecutive time. These results occurred between October 8 and 14, raising the total number of qualified teams to 28 in an expanded tournament for 48 teams.
The 2026 World Cup marks the first edition with the expanded format, with matches from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities. Direct spots per confederation include nine for Africa, eight for Asia, and 16 for Europe, in addition to six in South America already filled.
28/48 ✅@Aramco | #WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/eaksBnrBYM
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 14, 2025
Highlights from African qualifiers
Egypt secured the Group A lead with a 3-0 win over Djibouti on October 8, away from home. Mohamed Salah scored two goals in the match, consolidating 18 points in eight games. The team has accumulated consecutive World Cup appearances since 1990.
Algeria followed suit by beating Somalia 3-0 on the 9th, with Riyad Mahrez inspiring the attack. The result yielded 19 points, securing first place in Group B and the ninth direct African spot.
Ghana returned to the tournament after missing 2022, defeating Comoros Islands 1-0 in Accra on the 12th. The lone goal came in the second half, raising points to 17 and confirming the top of Group I.
Advances in Asia and Europe
Qatar, host of 2022, beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in a decisive game, securing 22 points in Group A of the fourth phase. The victory occurred on October 14, marking the second consecutive participation.
Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 with Iraq but led Group B on goal difference, with 20 points. The team has summed up eight direct qualifications in World Cups since 1994, strengthening its Asian presence.
England, under Thomas Tuchel’s command, thrashed Latvia 5-0 on October 14, reaching 24 points in eight games. The team maintains invincibility in European qualifiers, with an average of three goals per match.
Historic debuts in the tournament
Cape Verde secured its first spot by winning 3-0 against Eswatini in the final round, leading Group D with 20 points. The team surpassed Cameroon, runner-up with 18, in a campaign marked by solid defenses.
South Africa confirmed qualification in Group C with a 1-1 draw against Nigeria, totaling 16 points. The team, host of 2010, returns to the World Cup after 16 years away, focusing on efficient counterattacks.
- Key highlights from Cape Verde: Defense with only four goals conceded in eight games.
- South Africa’s contribution: Average of 1.8 goals per match in qualifiers.
- Impact of debuts: Both teams add diversity to the tournament with defensive styles.
Context of direct spots
Senegal secured Group F with a 2-0 win over Mauritania on October 14, totaling 21 points. The team, African runner-up in 2022, relies on Sadio Mané to lead the attack in the World Cup.
Ivory Coast closed Group E by beating Kenya 3-1 on the same day, with 19 points. The country, host of the 2024 African Cup, now joins the group of nine Africans qualified directly.
The Asian qualifiers distributed eight spots, with the last two defined in the October fourth phase. The intercontinental playoff will take place in March 2026, involving group runners-up.
Full list of the 28 confirmed teams
The 2026 Cup already defines more than half of the participants, with balance between traditional continents and emerging ones. Below, the distribution by confederation:
- Concacaf (6 spots): Canada, United States, Mexico (hosts).
- Caf (9 spots): Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia.
- Afc (8 spots): Saudi Arabia, Australia, Qatar, South Korea, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Uzbekistan.
- Conmebol (6 spots): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay.
- Ofc (1 spot): New Zealand.
- Uefa (1 spot so far): England.
These confirmations occur amid 120 global qualifier games, focusing on criteria like goal difference and head-to-head matches.
