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Race to 2026 World Cup Gathers Steam as More Countries Secure Spots
With the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway, countries across the globe are steadily booking their tickets to what promises to be the biggest edition in the tournament’s history.
This edition, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first to feature 48 teams, expanding from the usual 32-team format.
As co-hosts, the three North American countries will automatically participate, giving fans across the continent the rare chance to witness World Cup action live.
From Asia to South America, the qualification process has already produced a mix of familiar faces and new arrivals. Japan became the first team to qualify after defeating Bahrain in March.
Iran followed soon after, securing their place with a draw against Uzbekistan, who themselves made history by qualifying for the first time. Jordan and South Korea have also joined the list, both confirming their spots with convincing performances.
In Oceania, New Zealand maintained their regional dominance by overcoming New Caledonia to qualify once again.
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South America’s football giants are also in the mix. Argentina, the current World Cup holders, sealed their spot even before completing their final qualifying match.
Brazil, the only country to have played in every World Cup since 1930, extended their perfect record with a win over Paraguay. Ecuador has also earned qualification.
Australia continued their consistent World Cup run, qualifying through Asia for what will be their sixth consecutive appearance.
So far, twelve teams have secured their place at the tournament, including the three hosts and nine other nations: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, South Korea, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Australia.
With the qualifiers still ongoing, more nations are expected to join in the coming months, setting the stage for a landmark football event that will span across North America and bring the world’s top football nations together.
