Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?
All 48 teams have finally been confirmed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be played across Canada, Mexico and the USA. The tournament will feature World Cup stalwarts like five-time winners Brazil, France and holders Argentina but not Italy. Home nations England, looking for a first taste of glory since 1966, and Scotland, who have qualified for the first time since 1998, are also there.
The FIFA World Cup is almost upon us, with England and Scotland finalizing their preparations before the summer’s mammoth 48-team tournament.
Among those having booked their place for the World Cup – which takes place across Canada, Mexico and the USA – are holders Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, five-time winners Brazil, and the Kylian Mbappe-powered France.
Meanwhile, Curacao will become the smallest ever nation to play in a World Cup when the Caribbean islanders step out for their opening game against four-time champions Germany at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Here’s everything you need to know about the teams that have qualified for the World Cup, which takes place from June 11 to July 19.
The teams to have qualified for the World Cup 2026 so far
Europe: England, France, Croatia, Norway, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Turkey, Czechia
North America, Central America and Caribbean: Panama, Curacao, Haiti
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, DR Congo
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Iraq
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Oceania: New Zealand
Who are England and Scotland playing in the group stage?
England will open their World Cup campaign in Dallas against Croatia, before playing Ghana in Boston and Panama in New Jersey.
Scotland, meanwhile, take on Haiti in Boston and stay there to play Morocco. Steve Clarke’s men then take on Brazil in Miami.
Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales all failed to qualify for the tournament after losing in the semi-finals of UEFA’s play-off qualification stage.
World Cup groups
Group A – Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
Group B – Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C – Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D – United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E – Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F – Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
Group G – Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H – Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I – France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J – Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K – Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L – England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Could Messi and Ronaldo face each other at the World Cup?
Lionel Messi has yet to decide whether he will play for Argentina at the World Cup. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has featured in the last five World Cups and helped Argentina lift the trophy in 2022, while he holds the record for the most appearances in the tournament’s history with 26.
However, should Messi, who will turn 39 during the summer’s tournament, confirm his involvement, he will go up against Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J.
Meanwhile, the tournament will represent Ronaldo’s last chance to clinch World Cup glory before the end of his career.
The 40-year-old, who is the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer, has also already featured at five World Cups.
Should Messi compete, and Portugal and Argentina then win their groups, last-32, and last-16 matches, we will see Ronaldo and Messi go toe-to-toe in a World Cup quarter-final.
What has Scaloni said about Messi’s World Cup involvement?
Speaking in a March press conference, when asked whether Messi will be at the World Cup, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said: “This is a question more for him but, as far as I’m concerned, you already know what I think. I will do everything I can to make sure he is there.
“I believe that he has to be there, for the sake of football, but it’s not me who decides. It’s up to him, how he feels in his mind and his physical condition.
“It’s difficult because it’s not just Argentinians who want to see him, everyone wants to see him. And then we have the dilemma as his coaches when he’s there, if he’s able to play the whole game or if he’s not.
“I want him to be there but he’s the one who decides. I’m not going to stand here and say, ‘Let’s see if I pick him or not.’
“He has earned the right to decide calmly. We are not in a rush. We know that whatever he decides will be the best thing for both him and the team. We hope he’ll be there but I can’t say much more.”
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