Explained: How many teams have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? And how does the qualification system work?

With a little over a year left for the 23rd FIFA World Cup, which is set to be bigger than ever with the tournament expanding to 48 teams from 32, we take a look at the teams that have already made it to the Finals as well as a detailed look at the qualification process.

The FIFA World Cup is set to be bigger than ever next year with the 23rd edition of the mega-event involving 48 teams – up from 32, which had been the norm from 1998 to the most recent edition in 2022. For the first time in the tournament’s near 100-year history, the FIFA World Cup will be hosted across three countries with matches taking place in USA, Mexico and Canada next year.

Mexico will become the first nation to host FIFA World Cup matches across three editions (1970,  while the tournament returns to the United States for the first time since 1994.

Qualification for the tournament is also in full swing at the moment with a handful of nations having already qualified for the World Cup with more than a year to go.

Continue Reading on FIRSTPOST