US Edition
World Cup Qualifying Was Long, Wacky and Historic. This Is What We’ve Learned
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup field is officially set after Tuesday's six winner-take-all playoff matches concluded the three-year qualifying process for the 48-team tournament.
- An enlarged tournament structure allowed four nations—Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde, and Curaçao—to reach soccer's biggest stage for the first time, with Curaçao being the smallest nation ever to qualify at about 156,000 residents.
- European nations Turkey, Czechia, Sweden, and Bosnia and Herzegovina secured the final 16 UEFA spots after winning crucial matches on Tuesday, completing the continent's qualifying roster.
- Fans from nations including Iraq, Congo, and Turkey must apply for United States visas with potential bonds up to $15,000, though President Donald Trump promised a "FIFA Pass" fast-track service for World Cup ticket holders.
- Running from June 11, 2026 to July 19, 2026, the tournament is hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with the opening match featuring Mexico against South Africa in Mexico City.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Yakima Herald-Republic
Independent EspañolThe qualifying phase has ended. The list of participants is complete.
Joy and heartbreak as World Cup qualifying marathon ends
The 48-team field for FIFA ’s biggest ever World Cup is complete after a qualifying process that spanned more than two and a half years. Iraq edged Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff at Monterrey in northern Mexico on Tuesday to secure the 48th spot, hours after Bosnia and Herzegovina upset four-time champion Italy on penalties in European playoffs. The result meant Italy was knocked out in qualifying for a third successive World Cup.
World Cup qualifying was long, wacky and historic. This is what we’ve learned
Qualifying is done. The lineup is complete. The countdown to the biggest-ever World Cup is on, with the 48-team tournament in North America a veritable hodgepodge of stellar names and unheralded upstarts. Here’s a look at what we learned from a qualification campaign that lasted 2 1/2 years, featured 2,527 goals, and finished Tuesday with six nations booking the final spots at soccer’s biggest event. You can qualify for the World Cup without win…
Associated Press News
World Cup qualifying was long, wacky and historic. This is what we've learned
Qualifying is done, the lineup is complete and the countdown to the biggest-ever World Cup is on. The 48-team tournament in North America is a veritable hodgepodge of stellar names and unheralded upstarts and it has some unusual storylines.
Now it is clear which 48 teams will be participating in the XXL World Championship. FIFA will probably bring tickets to the market for the last time. According to the World Football Association, the demand is enormous. What interested parties need to know for sale, entry and security.
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