The Road to 2026 World Cup: How Many Teams Will Qualify from Each Continent?

Rethabile Nyelele26 March , 2025

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a landmark event, expanding from 32 to 48 teams. This significant change aims to provide more nations with the opportunity to participate on the global stage. The distribution of these 48 spots among the six continental football confederations has been carefully allocated as follows:

1. UEFA (Europe): 16 Teams

Europe has secured the highest number of World Cup spots, with 16 teams set to qualify. The qualification process involves:

Group Stage: Teams are divided into 12 groups, each comprising four or five teams. They compete in a home-and-away format, with group winners earning direct qualification.
Play-offs: The runners-up and top-performing non-qualifying teams from the UEFA Nations League enter a playoff system. This consists of four routes, each featuring a semifinal and a final, determining the final four World Cup spots.

2. CAF (Africa): 10 Teams

Africa’s representation has been increased to 10 teams. The qualification process includes:

Group Stage: Teams are split into groups, with group winners securing direct World Cup spots.
Play-offs: The best runners-up participate in a playoff to compete for a place in the intercontinental playoffs, offering another route to the World Cup.

Also read: Africa 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Latest Standings, Results & Bafana Bafana’s Big Match

3. AFC (Asia): 9 Teams

Asia’s allocation stands at 9 teams. The qualification journey is structured as follows:

Rounds 1 & 2: Lower-ranked teams engage in two-legged ties, with winners joining higher-ranked nations in subsequent rounds.
Group Stage: 36 teams are divided into nine groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the final round.
Final Round: Six groups of three teams compete, with group winners and runners-up earning direct World Cup spots.

4. CONMEBOL (South America): 7 Teams

South America’s allocation is 7 teams. The qualification format is a single league system where:

Round-robin Tournament: All 10 nations play each other home and away.
Qualification: The top six teams secure direct World Cup spots, while the seventh-placed team enters the intercontinental playoffs.

5. CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean): 6 Teams

CONCACAF’s allocation is 6 teams, including the three co-hosts. The qualification process involves:

Group Stage: 32 nations compete in a three-round tournament to determine the top three teams for direct qualification.
Play-offs: The fourth-placed team enters the intercontinental playoffs.

6. OFC (Oceania): 1 Team

Oceania’s allocation is 1 team. The qualification process is straightforward:

Direct Qualification: The winner of the OFC qualification tournament secures a World Cup spot.
Play-off: The runner-up enters the intercontinental playoffs.

7. Intercontinental Play-offs: 2 Teams

The final two World Cup spots are decided through intercontinental play-offs:

Format: Six teams from various confederations compete in a tournament featuring semifinals and finals.
Outcome: Two winners earn the last available World Cup spots.

This expanded and detailed qualification structure ensures a diverse and representative global competition, reflecting FIFA’s commitment to promoting football worldwide.

Also read: Bafana Bafana Aim to Extend Unbeaten Run Against Benin in 2026 World Cup Qualifier