
A total of 16 national teams have officially booked their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature a record 48 participants.
On Thursday, Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay joined the list of qualified nations after the penultimate round of qualifiers in the South American zone. Uruguay and Colombia both registered emphatic 3-0 victories, while Paraguay secured their spot with a goalless draw.
They now join Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador, who had already sealed qualification from the continent.
The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, who earned automatic berths as co-hosts.
From Asia and Oceania, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Australia, and New Zealand have also confirmed their participation.
In total, 43 teams will qualify through continental competitions, while the remaining two slots will be decided in the intercontinental playoffs involving six teams in March 2026.