Portugal and Norway have officially secured their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing the number of confirmed teams to 32 as global qualifiers enter their final stretch.
Both nations sealed qualification in emphatic fashion, with Portugal demolishing Armenia 9–1 in Porto and Norway defeating Italy 4-1 to book their first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Portugal’s victory was driven by hat-tricks from Bruno Fernandes and João Neves, easing pressure after their surprising defeat to the Republic of Ireland.
Norway’s return to the world stage ended a 28-year absence, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to complete a memorable 4–1 win over Italy.
A total of 48 teams will contest the 2026 World Cup, with 32 confirmed and 16 more still fighting for the remaining places. Europe remains the most competitive battlefield, with decisive winner-takes-all fixtures looming, including Germany vs Slovakia, Scotland vs Denmark, and Austria vs Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Africa has already produced nine automatic qualifiers, while Asia confirmed eight. South America filled all six of its direct slots earlier in the month.
Hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States were granted automatic entry, completing North America’s early representation.
The intercontinental play-offs, scheduled for March 2026, will feature six teams vying for the final two World Cup berths. DR Congo, Bolivia, and New Caledonia are among the nations already confirmed for the playoff route.
With global qualification nearing its conclusion, attention now shifts to the decisive fixtures that will determine the remaining 16 teams set to join football’s biggest stage next year across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Qualified Teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (32)
Hosts
Canada, Mexico, United States
Africa (9)
Algeria
Cape Verde
Egypt
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Morocco
Senegal
South Africa
Tunisia
Asia (8)
Australia
Iran
Japan
Jordan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Uzbekistan
Europe (5)
Croatia
England
France
Norway
Portugal
Oceania (1)
New Zealand
South America (6)
Argentina
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Uruguay
