Who's making World Cup debut? These countries are firsttime qualifiers Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAYNovember 25, 2025 at 4:08 AM 0 The World Cup's field has expanded to 48 for the 2026 tournament, offering the planet's biggest platform to teams that may not have been regular qualifiers under the previous 32country format. With the Dec. 5 draw in Washington D.C., 42 teams have qualified for next summer's World Cup in North America, with four countries set to make their debut on the big stage.
- - Who's making World Cup debut? These countries are first-time qualifiers
Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAYNovember 25, 2025 at 4:08 AM
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The World Cup's field has expanded to 48 for the 2026 tournament, offering the planet's biggest platform to teams that may not have been regular qualifiers under the previous 32-country format.
With the Dec. 5 draw in Washington D.C., 42 teams have qualified for next summer's World Cup in North America, with four countries set to make their debut on the big stage.
Cape Verde (Africa), Curaçao (Concacaf), Jordan (Asia) and Uzbekistan (Asia) have already booked their spots, with Curaçao becoming the smallest country to ever qualify.
There is room for more newcomers among the six remaining bids, with New Caledonia (Oceania) and Suriname (Concacaf) among the six teams vying for two spots in the Match intercontinental qualifying playoffs. In Europe, Kosovo and Albania advanced to the playoffs, each hoping to reach the World Cup for the first time.
Brazil – 23rd appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Brazil – 23rd appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/nXBLZoE class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Brazil – 23rd appearance
">Brazil – 23rd appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/nXBLZoE class=caas-img>United States of America – 12th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>United States of America – 12th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/L1jAFaJ class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
United States of America – 12th appearance
">United States of America – 12th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/L1jAFaJ class=caas-img>Mexico – 18th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Mexico – 18th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/L79sEot class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Mexico – 18th appearance
">Mexico – 18th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/L79sEot class=caas-img>England – 17th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>England – 17th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/uvOlf8J class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
England – 17th appearance
">England – 17th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/uvOlf8J class=caas-img>Portugal – ninth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Portugal – ninth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/VMns5vr class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Portugal – ninth appearance
">Portugal – ninth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/VMns5vr class=caas-img>France – 17th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>France – 17th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/24O7Rnd class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
France – 17th appearance
">France – 17th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/24O7Rnd class=caas-img>Spain – 17th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Spain – 17th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kSBNuq5 class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Spain – 17th appearance
">Spain – 17th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/kSBNuq5 class=caas-img>Iran – seventh appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Iran – seventh appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/vLgeDNF class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Iran – seventh appearance
">Iran – seventh appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/vLgeDNF class=caas-img>Switzerland – 13th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Switzerland – 13th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/KPV9WEt class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Switzerland – 13th appearance
">Switzerland – 13th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/KPV9WEt class=caas-img>Croatia – seventh appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Croatia – seventh appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/cvVNA4S class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Croatia – seventh appearance
">Croatia – seventh appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/cvVNA4S class=caas-img>Australia – seventh appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Australia – seventh appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/HTD8ibr class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Australia – seventh appearance
">Australia – seventh appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/HTD8ibr class=caas-img>Morocco – seventh appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Morocco – seventh appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/7OA5TiB class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Morocco – seventh appearance
">Morocco – seventh appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/7OA5TiB class=caas-img>Austria – eighth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Austria – eighth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/u9FxPRB class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Austria – eighth appearance
">Austria – eighth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/u9FxPRB class=caas-img>Ecuador – fifth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Ecuador – fifth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/BPojYc4 class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Ecuador – fifth appearance
">Ecuador – fifth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/BPojYc4 class=caas-img>Senegal – fourth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Senegal – fourth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1wocGl4 class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Senegal – fourth appearance
">Senegal – fourth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/1wocGl4 class=caas-img>South Korea – 12th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>South Korea – 12th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UvF9QIm class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
South Korea – 12th appearance
">South Korea – 12th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/UvF9QIm class=caas-img>Japan – eighth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Japan – eighth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UGEvPLB class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Japan – eighth appearance
">Japan – eighth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/UGEvPLB class=caas-img>Colombia – seventh appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Colombia – seventh appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/CGliByr class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Colombia – seventh appearance
">Colombia – seventh appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/CGliByr class=caas-img>Netherlands – 12th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Netherlands – 12th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/qO5kBiI class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Netherlands – 12th appearance
">Netherlands – 12th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/qO5kBiI class=caas-img>Germany – 21st appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Germany – 21st appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/uaZHRgX class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Germany – 21st appearance
">Germany – 21st appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/uaZHRgX class=caas-img>Belgium – 15th appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Belgium – 15th appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/n7LTgdY class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Belgium – 15th appearance
">Belgium – 15th appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/n7LTgdY class=caas-img>Canada – third appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Canada – third appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/s1TvjJt class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Canada – third appearance
">Canada – third appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/s1TvjJt class=caas-img>Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/JszdE8I class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
">Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/JszdE8I class=caas-img>Uzbekistan – first appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Uzbekistan – first appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/5zvYHGo class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Uzbekistan – first appearance
">Uzbekistan – first appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/5zvYHGo class=caas-img>Jordan – first appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Jordan – first appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/tCL3kub class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Jordan – first appearance
">Jordan – first appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/tCL3kub class=caas-img>Tunisia – seventh appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Tunisia – seventh appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/rpH9vmJ class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Tunisia – seventh appearance
">Tunisia – seventh appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/rpH9vmJ class=caas-img>South Africa – fourth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>South Africa – fourth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/rWngTRs class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
South Africa – fourth appearance
">South Africa – fourth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/rWngTRs class=caas-img>Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/sRFCHqg class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
">Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/sRFCHqg class=caas-img>Scotland – ninth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Scotland – ninth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/0Ip3vCN class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Scotland – ninth appearance
">Scotland – ninth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/0Ip3vCN class=caas-img>Algeria – fifth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Algeria – fifth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/fc9lmw3 class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Algeria – fifth appearance
">Algeria – fifth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/fc9lmw3 class=caas-img>New Zealand – third appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>New Zealand – third appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/AKro0pm class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
New Zealand – third appearance
">New Zealand – third appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/AKro0pm class=caas-img>Paraguay – ninth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Paraguay – ninth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/TgPtaAr class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Paraguay – ninth appearance
">Paraguay – ninth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/TgPtaAr class=caas-img>Egypt – fourth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Egypt – fourth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/PWp3dnu class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Egypt – fourth appearance
">Egypt – fourth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/PWp3dnu class=caas-img>Cape Verde – first appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Cape Verde – first appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/sqjuGTx class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Cape Verde – first appearance
">Cape Verde – first appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/sqjuGTx class=caas-img>Qatar – second appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Qatar – second appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/JTfxWHi class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Qatar – second appearance
">Qatar – second appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/JTfxWHi class=caas-img>Norway – fourth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Norway – fourth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/w2EWzCG class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Norway – fourth appearance
">Norway – fourth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/w2EWzCG class=caas-img>Panama – second appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Panama – second appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/dnIY6Cx class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Panama – second appearance
">Panama – second appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/dnIY6Cx class=caas-img>Curacao – first appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Curacao – first appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/QlywXCx class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Curacao – first appearance
">Curacao – first appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/QlywXCx class=caas-img>Ghana – fifth appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Ghana – fifth appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/deE6NFq class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Ghana – fifth appearance
">Ghana – fifth appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/deE6NFq class=caas-img>Haiti – second appearance
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Haiti – second appearance
" data-src=https://ift.tt/EAoVXjI class=caas-img data-headline="Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far" data-caption="
Haiti – second appearance
">Haiti – second appearance
" src=https://ift.tt/EAoVXjI class=caas-img>
1 / 40Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far
Brazil – 23rd appearance
World Cup first time qualifiers for 2026
Of the 42 teams officially qualified heading into the draw, three countries are playing in their first World Cup next summer:
Cape Verde
Curaçao
Jordan
Uzbekistan
Still in the running for an inaugural World Cup bid:
New Caledonia
Suriname
Kosovo
Albania
Most World Cup appearances
The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of the tournament and Brazil is the only team that has played in every single one.
Here's a look at the most successful teams (including 2026 World Cup):
Brazil: 23
Germany: 21
Argentina: 19
Italy: 18 (can still qualify for 2026)
Mexico: 18
Spain: 17
England: 17
France: 17
Belgium: 15
Uruguay: 15
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup 2026 teams qualified first time include Curacao
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: November 25, 2025 at 01:27PM on Source: ANDY MAG
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