Who's making World Cup debut? These countries are first-time qualifiers

Who's making World Cup debut? These countries are first-time qualifiersStory byJesse Yomtov, USA TODAYTue, November 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM UTC·1 min read

The World Cup's field has expanded to 48 for the 2026 tournament, offering the planet's biggest platform to teams that may not have been regular qualifiers under the previous 32-country format.

With the Dec. 5 draw in Washington D.C., 42 teams have qualified for next summer's World Cup in North America, with four countries set to make their debut on the big stage.

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Cape Verde (Africa), Curaçao (Concacaf), Jordan (Asia) and Uzbekistan (Asia) have already booked their spots, with Curaçao becoming the smallest country to ever qualify.

There is room for more newcomers among the six remaining bids, with New Caledonia (Oceania) and Suriname (Concacaf) among the six teams vying for two spots in the Match intercontinental qualifying playoffs. In Europe, Kosovo and Albania advanced to the playoffs, each hoping to reach the World Cup for the first time.

Brazil – 23rd appearance

United States of America – 12th appearance

Mexico – 18th appearance

England – 17th appearance

Portugal – ninth appearance

France – 17th appearance

Spain – 17th appearance

Iran – seventh appearance

Switzerland – 13th appearance

Croatia – seventh appearance

Australia – seventh appearance

Morocco – seventh appearance

Austria – eighth appearance

Ecuador – fifth appearance

Senegal – fourth appearance

South Korea – 12th appearance

Japan – eighth appearance

Colombia – seventh appearance

Netherlands – 12th appearance

Germany – 21st appearance

Belgium – 15th appearance

Canada – third appearance

Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance

Uzbekistan – first appearance

Jordan – first appearance

Tunisia – seventh appearance

South Africa – fourth appearance

Ivory Coast – fourth appearance

Scotland – ninth appearance

Algeria – fifth appearance

New Zealand – third appearance

Paraguay – ninth appearance

Egypt – fourth appearance

Cape Verde – first appearance

Qatar – second appearance

Norway – fourth appearance

Panama – second appearance

Curacao – first appearance

Ghana – fifth appearance

Haiti – second appearance

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Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Brazil – 23rd appearance

1 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Brazil – 23rd appearance

2 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

United States of America – 12th appearance

3 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Mexico – 18th appearance

4 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

England – 17th appearance

5 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Portugal – ninth appearance

6 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

France – 17th appearance

7 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Spain – 17th appearance

8 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Iran – seventh appearance

9 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Switzerland – 13th appearance

10 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Croatia – seventh appearance

11 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Australia – seventh appearance

12 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Morocco – seventh appearance

13 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Austria – eighth appearance

14 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Ecuador – fifth appearance

15 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Senegal – fourth appearance

16 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

South Korea – 12th appearance

17 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Japan – eighth appearance

18 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Colombia – seventh appearance

19 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Netherlands – 12th appearance

20 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Germany – 21st appearance

21 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Belgium – 15th appearance

22 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Canada – third appearance

23 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance

24 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Uzbekistan – first appearance

25 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Jordan – first appearance

26 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Tunisia – seventh appearance

27 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

South Africa – fourth appearance

28 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Ivory Coast – fourth appearance

29 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Scotland – ninth appearance

30 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Algeria – fifth appearance

31 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

New Zealand – third appearance

32 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Paraguay – ninth appearance

33 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Egypt – fourth appearance

34 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Cape Verde – first appearance

35 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Qatar – second appearance

36 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Norway – fourth appearance

37 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Panama – second appearance

38 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Curacao – first appearance

39 / 40

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Ghana – fifth appearance

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Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Haiti – second appearance

World Cup first time qualifiers for 2026

Of the 42 teams officially qualified heading into the draw, three countries are playing in their first World Cup next summer:

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• Cape Verde

• Curaçao

• Jordan

• Uzbekistan

Still in the running for an inaugural World Cup bid:

• New Caledonia

• Suriname

• Kosovo

• Albania

Most World Cup appearances

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of the tournament and Brazil is the only team that has played in every single one.

Here's a look at the most successful teams (including 2026 World Cup):

• Brazil: 23

• Germany: 21

• Argentina: 19

• Italy: 18 (can still qualify for 2026)

• Mexico: 18

• Spain: 17

• England: 17

• France: 17

• Belgium: 15

• Uruguay: 15

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup 2026 teams qualified first time include Curacao

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