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Which nation could be next to qualify for World Cup 26?

This year will see 39 nations punch their tickets to FIFA World Cup 26 – but who will manage it?

Egypt vs Mauritania - Africa Cup Of Nations Qualifier Mohamed Salah of Egypt celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025, match number 61, between Egypt and Mauritania at Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, on October 11, 2024. Cairo Egypt PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAymanxArefx originalFilename:aref-notitle241011_npTKo.jpg

A total of 18 teams have now qualified for the FIFA World Cup 26™.

With qualifying action continuing across the world, FIFA looks at the teams closest to adding their names to the list of participants.

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Africa: Trio vie to join Morocco and Tunisia

In the CAF region, where Morocco have led the way and Tunisia also punched their ticket , three other teams could still secure a spot in September’s remaining fixtures.

Follow the World Cup CAF qualifiers

Egypt will qualify on Matchday 8 if:

  • They beat Burkina Faso

South Africa will clinch qualification if:

  • They beat Nigeria and Benin fail to beat Lesotho

Algeria will secure a spot if:

  • They beat Guinea, and Uganda and Mozambique both fail to win
  • They draw against Guinea, and Uganda and Mozambique both lose
Group APWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Egypt76101621419
2Burkina Faso74211971214
3Guinea-Bissau824288010
4Sierra Leone72328809
5Ethiopia713379-26
6Djibouti8017428-241
Group BPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Congo DR7511113816
2Senegal7430101915
3Sudan733184412
4Mauritania712449-55
5Togo704349-54
6South Sudan7034314-113
Group CPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1South Africa7511135816
2Benin732277011
3Nigeria724186210
4Rwanda722345-18
5Lesotho713348-46
6Zimbabwe7043510-54
Group DPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Cabo Verde751195416
2Cameroon74301541115
3Libya842297214
4Angola714245-17
5Mauritius7124612-65
6Eswatini8026414-102
Group EPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Morocco77002121921
2Tanzania631265110
3Zambia62049906
4Niger520369-36
5Congo6015320-171
6Eritrea00000000—–
Group FPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Côte d’Ivoire76101501519
2Gabon76011661018
3Burundi7313138510
4The Gambia7214151417
5Kenya7133121116
6Seychelles7007234-320
Group GPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Algeria86111971219
2Uganda8503127515
3Mozambique85031215-315
4Guinea832375211
5Botswana83051013-39
6Somalia8017316-131
Group HPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Tunisia87101301322
2Namibia733194512
3Liberia832399011
4Malawi831489-110
5Equatorial Guinea8314711-410
6São Tomé and Príncipe7007417-130
Group IPWDLGFGAGDPtsForm
1Ghana86111761119
2Madagascar8512147716
3Comoros85031110115
4Mali8332115612
5Central African Republic8125817-95
6Chad8017319-161

Asia: Six remain in the hunt

With Australia sealing their spot on the final day of third-round action , all eyes now turn to October and the fourth round of AFC qualifying.

This consists of the six sides that finished third and fourth respectively across the third-round groups: Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. They have been drawn into two groups of three, with the winners of these groups qualifying for the finals.

Follow the World Cup AFC qualifiers

Finally, the fifth round will pit together the two sides which finished as runners-up in the fourth-round group in a two-legged contest. The winner of these meetings will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.


North America, Central America and the Caribbean

This region’s representatives will be determined in the final round of Concacaf qualifying in September, October and November 2025.

Follow the World Cup Concacaf qualifiers


Europe

No UEFA side will be booking their spot at the tournament for the time being, with European qualifying having only got under way in March.

Follow the World Cup UEFA qualifiers


Oceania

While they were beaten by New Zealand in the OFC qualifying final, New Caledonia still have a chance to reach the World Cup. They will compete in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.


South America

With all six of CONMEBOL’s automatic berths now having been claimed, all that remains is to determine who qualifies for the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.Venezuela are currently in pole position, one point ahead of Bolivia with a superior goal difference, ahead of decisive Matchday 18 encounters with Colombia (h) and Brazil (h) respectively.


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