Thirty-three nations across six continents have officially booked their spots at the 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, the latest qualification figures showed after Thursday’s matches.

Africa has nine teams already through, having completed their qualification phase, while two additional nations, including Nigeria and DR Congo, are currently contesting the continental playoffs for a chance to advance to the intercontinental round.

List of teams that already qualified for the 48-team 2026 World Cup as of Thursday:

Host nations

Canada, Mexico, United States

Africa

Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

Asia

Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan

Europe

England, France

Oceania

New Zealand

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

The Leopards of DR Congo will play against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the final of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers Africa playoffs in Morocco on Sunday.

Their meeting was set up after Thursday’s matches, where DR Congo beat Cameroon 1-0 in the second semi-final at the Stade El Barid, and the Super Eagles beat Gabon 4-1 after extra time at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, both in Rabat, Morocco.

The winners of the continental play-off final will progress to a six-team intercontinental qualifier, which will be held in Mexico by March 2026 and will determine the final two nations at next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. (PUNCH)