South Korea’s Lee Taeseok, left, fights for the ball with Irag’s Youssef Amyn (7) during the Asian qualifier group B soccer match for 2026 World Cup between South Korea and Iraq at the Basra International Stadium, in Basra, Iraq, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams in the tournament to be co-hosted the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Uzbekistan, Jordan and South Korea sealed qualification on Thursday.
Forty-three teams will get their spots through their continent’s qualifying process. Another two will secure their berths in the international playoffs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026. The three host countries automatically qualify.
Advertisement
What is the breakdown of berths?
Asia will have eight direct berths and one in the intercontinental playoff.
Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental playoff.
North and Central America plus the Caribbean get three direct berths (plus the three host nations) and another two spots in the intercontinental playoffs.
South America has six direct spots and will send another team to the intercontinental playoffs.
Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot — New Zealand clinched that in March. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs.
Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the next World Cup.
Advertisement
Who has qualified so far?
The three host countries automatically qualify.
Host nations
United States, Mexico, Canada
Asia
Japan (qualified on March 20)
Iran (qualified on March 25)
Jordan (qualified on June 6)
South Korea (qualified on June 6)
Uzbekistan (qualified on June 6)
Oceania
New Zealand (qualified on March 24)
South America
Argentina (qualified on March 25)
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
