How many teams are playing at 2026 World Cup? List of nations at expanded soccer tournament
More teams than ever before will contest the 24th edition of the FIFA World Cup, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
How many teams are playing at 2026 World Cup? List of nations at expanded soccer tournament originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be the biggest yet. Ninety-six years since the inaugural competition, won by hosts Uruguay in 1930, more teams than ever will participate in the tournament. Canada, Mexico and the United States are sharing hosting duties, making this the first World Cup to be staged across three countries.
Here's everything you need to know about a new era for world soccer's flagship international tournament. MORE: World Cup 2026 European playoffs teams, schedule, bracket for UEFA nations chasing final four spots How many teams are playing at 2026 World Cup? There are 48 teams taking part at the 2026 World Cup.
There will be 16 representatives from UEFA (Europe), eight from the AFC (Asia), nine from CAF (Africa), six apiece from CONCACAF (North America) and CONMEBOL (South America) and one from OFC (Oceania), along with two further teams to be decided at the inter-confederation playoff in March 2026. The final four UEFA qualifiers will also be decided in March via the European playoff paths. At the finals, there will be 12 four-team groups, from which the top two and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the round of 32.