All 48 nations now confirmed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
With only around 70 days to go until the start of this year's FIFA World Cup, we finally now have all 48 nations confirmed for the headline event of 2026.
Last night, the final 6 nations confirmed their places via play-off finals, so here's the updated group stage draw with all positions now filled!
The final six nations that earned a place at the 2026 World Cup are as follows:
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
Czechia will be playing at a FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2006 this summer after earning qualification in about as dramatic a fashion as possible.
After coming 2nd in their initial qualification group behind Croatia, the Czechs opted to appoint Miroslav Koubek as their new coach in December and he's managed to guide the nation to a place in what looks like a fairly open Group A at the World Cup.
Aided by having home advantage in each of their play-off games, Czechia came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the Republic of Ireland before a winning a penalty shootout, and then sealed their qualification with another 2-2 draw and penalty shootout win against Denmark.
That certainly says plenty about the heart and resilience of this Czech side, and it was a particularly good week for Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci who after being named as the new captain of Czechia scored in both of those play-off games.
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 2018 it was Sweden, in 2022 it was North Macedonia, and in 2026 it is Bosnia and Herzegovina who have taken the headlines for preventing Italy from qualifying for a World Cup. The Azzurri's failure will of course be widely debated, but for Bosnia, this is an immense achievement as they reach a World Cup finals for only the 2nd time as an independent nation (also 2014).
That means one more World Cup for captain and iconic striker Edin Dzeko who, even at the age of 40, is the clear Bosnian attacking threat and he scored a crucial equaliser in Cardiff as Bosnia and Herzegovina progressed past Wales to set up the game against Italy that they also won on penalties.
The winning penalty against Italy was scored by 21-year old Esmir Bajraktarevic who held his nerve to secure qualification to a World Cup that will be hosted by the country he grew up in (the United States). Bajraktarevic was born in Wisconsin to Bosnian parents who had been forced to flee Srebrenitsa.
Like Czechia, Bosnia and Herzegovina will feel they have a chance in the group that they now find themselves in at the World Cup.
🇹🇷 Türkiye
Given the strength of their current team, it's hard to believe that this will only be Türkiye's third appearance at a FIFA World Cup and first since 2002 where they came 3rd.
Solid 1-0 wins over Romania at home and then away at Kosovo have secured Türkiye a place in Group D at the World Cup where they'll face Australia, Paraguay and hosts USA. Now that they've made it, most would probably consider Türkiye favourites in that group given their recent results and the ability of players like Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, Kerem Akturkoglu and Hakan Calhanoglu, though it's worth noting that they've underwhelmed at recent European Championships when often labelled as 'dark horses'.
🇸🇪 Sweden
Sweden's qualification means Graham Potter's decision to take charge of their national team in October has proved to be a very good one as he's bounced back from a challenging few years in London as a manager following his previous strong work with Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton.
There's a slight element on controversy over Sweden's qualification because they were absolutely terrible in the original qualification stage and failed to win a single one of their 6 matches against Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia, but UEFA rules meant they were entered into the play-offs regardless due to their Nations League performances.
Potter and his squad certainly made the most of that 'back door' route, beating Ukraine 1-3 away before defeating Poland 3-2 in Stockholm. Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has been the star, scoring a hat-trick in that Ukraine win and the crucial winning goal against Poland. If by the time the World Cup starts, Alexander Isak is also back fit, that's some serious firepower they'll be taking into what should be a very exciting group with Tunisia, Japan and the Netherlands.
🇮🇶 Iraq
Having already touched upon the challenging upbringing that Esmir Bajraktarevic (and no doubt many other Bosnians) will have experienced, Iraq's first World Cup qualification since 1986 is of course also remarkable considering what their country has been through since.
Even the most recent and ongoing conflict in the Middle East has of course caused disruption to Iraq who had to make an overland crossing into Jordan in order to reach their play-off final vs. Bolivia in Mexico. Iraq won said final 2-1 thanks to goals from Luton striker Ali Al Hamadi and Ayman Hussein. They're coached by Australian Graham Arnold.
There should of course be nothing but hope and optimism over this qualification for Iraq, but it's fair to say they find themselves in a challenging group. At the World Cup, they'll face 2018 winners and 2022 runners-up France, African champions Senegal (if we can still call them that) and a Norway side that absolutely marched through qualifying to reach this tournament led by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
🇨🇩 Congo DR
Last but not least, we have the Democratic Republic of Congo who have earned a spot in Group K after defeating Jamaica 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal from Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe.
This is DR Congo's first qualification since 1974 when they competed as Zaire. In that tournament, they failed to score a goal, so they'll hope to at least manage that this time around as they look foward to facing Uzbekistan, Colombia and Portugal.
Tuanzebe is one of a few names that Premier League fans will be familiar with in the Congo DR squad, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki and Yoane Wissa were all int the starting XI for the win over Jamaica, while Real Betis forward Cedric Bakambu led the line.
Today (Wednesday) has been declared a public holiday in the Democratic Republic of Congo following last night's triumph and there's been some great videos on social media of the celebrations in Kinshasa.
Head to the Superbru Football app and the designated World Cup tab to pre-register for the tournament.
Last night, the final 6 nations confirmed their places via play-off finals, so here's the updated group stage draw with all positions now filled!
The final six nations that earned a place at the 2026 World Cup are as follows:
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
Czechia will be playing at a FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2006 this summer after earning qualification in about as dramatic a fashion as possible.
After coming 2nd in their initial qualification group behind Croatia, the Czechs opted to appoint Miroslav Koubek as their new coach in December and he's managed to guide the nation to a place in what looks like a fairly open Group A at the World Cup.
Aided by having home advantage in each of their play-off games, Czechia came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the Republic of Ireland before a winning a penalty shootout, and then sealed their qualification with another 2-2 draw and penalty shootout win against Denmark.
That certainly says plenty about the heart and resilience of this Czech side, and it was a particularly good week for Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci who after being named as the new captain of Czechia scored in both of those play-off games.
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 2018 it was Sweden, in 2022 it was North Macedonia, and in 2026 it is Bosnia and Herzegovina who have taken the headlines for preventing Italy from qualifying for a World Cup. The Azzurri's failure will of course be widely debated, but for Bosnia, this is an immense achievement as they reach a World Cup finals for only the 2nd time as an independent nation (also 2014).
That means one more World Cup for captain and iconic striker Edin Dzeko who, even at the age of 40, is the clear Bosnian attacking threat and he scored a crucial equaliser in Cardiff as Bosnia and Herzegovina progressed past Wales to set up the game against Italy that they also won on penalties.
The winning penalty against Italy was scored by 21-year old Esmir Bajraktarevic who held his nerve to secure qualification to a World Cup that will be hosted by the country he grew up in (the United States). Bajraktarevic was born in Wisconsin to Bosnian parents who had been forced to flee Srebrenitsa.
Like Czechia, Bosnia and Herzegovina will feel they have a chance in the group that they now find themselves in at the World Cup.
🇹🇷 Türkiye
Given the strength of their current team, it's hard to believe that this will only be Türkiye's third appearance at a FIFA World Cup and first since 2002 where they came 3rd.
Solid 1-0 wins over Romania at home and then away at Kosovo have secured Türkiye a place in Group D at the World Cup where they'll face Australia, Paraguay and hosts USA. Now that they've made it, most would probably consider Türkiye favourites in that group given their recent results and the ability of players like Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, Kerem Akturkoglu and Hakan Calhanoglu, though it's worth noting that they've underwhelmed at recent European Championships when often labelled as 'dark horses'.
🇸🇪 Sweden
Sweden's qualification means Graham Potter's decision to take charge of their national team in October has proved to be a very good one as he's bounced back from a challenging few years in London as a manager following his previous strong work with Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton.
There's a slight element on controversy over Sweden's qualification because they were absolutely terrible in the original qualification stage and failed to win a single one of their 6 matches against Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia, but UEFA rules meant they were entered into the play-offs regardless due to their Nations League performances.
Potter and his squad certainly made the most of that 'back door' route, beating Ukraine 1-3 away before defeating Poland 3-2 in Stockholm. Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has been the star, scoring a hat-trick in that Ukraine win and the crucial winning goal against Poland. If by the time the World Cup starts, Alexander Isak is also back fit, that's some serious firepower they'll be taking into what should be a very exciting group with Tunisia, Japan and the Netherlands.
🇮🇶 Iraq
Having already touched upon the challenging upbringing that Esmir Bajraktarevic (and no doubt many other Bosnians) will have experienced, Iraq's first World Cup qualification since 1986 is of course also remarkable considering what their country has been through since.
Even the most recent and ongoing conflict in the Middle East has of course caused disruption to Iraq who had to make an overland crossing into Jordan in order to reach their play-off final vs. Bolivia in Mexico. Iraq won said final 2-1 thanks to goals from Luton striker Ali Al Hamadi and Ayman Hussein. They're coached by Australian Graham Arnold.
There should of course be nothing but hope and optimism over this qualification for Iraq, but it's fair to say they find themselves in a challenging group. At the World Cup, they'll face 2018 winners and 2022 runners-up France, African champions Senegal (if we can still call them that) and a Norway side that absolutely marched through qualifying to reach this tournament led by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
🇨🇩 Congo DR
Last but not least, we have the Democratic Republic of Congo who have earned a spot in Group K after defeating Jamaica 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal from Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe.
This is DR Congo's first qualification since 1974 when they competed as Zaire. In that tournament, they failed to score a goal, so they'll hope to at least manage that this time around as they look foward to facing Uzbekistan, Colombia and Portugal.
Tuanzebe is one of a few names that Premier League fans will be familiar with in the Congo DR squad, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki and Yoane Wissa were all int the starting XI for the win over Jamaica, while Real Betis forward Cedric Bakambu led the line.
Today (Wednesday) has been declared a public holiday in the Democratic Republic of Congo following last night's triumph and there's been some great videos on social media of the celebrations in Kinshasa.
Pre-register for our World Cup Predictor
With the groups now confirmed, our World Cup Predictor game will be live very soon!Head to the Superbru Football app and the designated World Cup tab to pre-register for the tournament.
Hennessy
60,079 caps
Won't be the same without Ireland 😔
1 Apr 16:18
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BC
107,824 caps
👍 1 Apr 18:09
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ENADIZENIDENIZ1972
9,947 caps
we are not really sure if iran will participate at the 2026 world cup. since it looks highly unlikely that the tournament will be moved away from north america it will be a very big miracle if iran participates at the tournament especially that all their group games are scheduled to take place in the usa.
1 Apr 18:51
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