The full line-up for the first-ever 48-team World Cup is now complete.
A qualifying campaign that began almost three years ago is now complete, following the conclusion of the final play-offs on Tuesday evening.
There will be four debutants in Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan, with co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico qualifying automatically.
The home nations will be represented by England and Scotland, with Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the Republic of Ireland, suffering play-off heartbreak.
Here are the 48 teams going to the World Cup
Europe
Teams qualified (16): England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, Sweden, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic
What happened on Tuesday? More heartbreak for Italy, as the Azzuri failed to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup by losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties. Sweden snuck in through the back door having finished bottom of their qualifying group by salvaging a play-off place due to their Nations League performance – so hats off to Graham Potter. Czech Republic did what Bosnia and Herzegovina managed, winning both the play-off semi-final and final on a penalty shoot-out. And Turkey are back at a World Cup for the first time in 24 years, or since they reached the semi-finals in 2002.
What happened in qualifying? Scotland and Norway both qualified for their first men’s World Cup since 1998, joining the traditional powerhouses from Europe (sorry Italy). Austria were the only other European country not at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to qualify automatically.
Americas
Teams qualified (6): Curacao, Panama, Haiti (plus USA, Canada and Mexico automatically as co-hosts)
What happened on Tuesday? Jamaica had their dreams of a first World Cup since 1998 shattered as they conceded a extra-time Congo DR winner, sending the African nation through instead.
What happened in qualifying? The combination of the expansion to 48 teams and USA, Canada and Mexico qualifying automatically as hosts presented some nations with a golden opportunity. Curacao, Panama, Haiti, despite not playing any of their games at home due to war, took full advantage.
Africa
Teams qualified (10): Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Congo DR
What happened on Tuesday? A 100th-minute goal from Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe gave the Congo DR a 1-0 win over Jamaica to clinch a place at the World Cup. Tuanzebe tapped in from close range after Jamaica failed to clear a corner, finally breaking the deadlock after the African side saw two efforts ruled out in normal time. The win earns the DRC their first World Cup appearance since playing as Zaire in 1974.
What happened in qualifying? Cape Verde became the second-smallest country to qualify for a World Cup when the island of just 600,000 inhabitants pipped Cameroon to an automatic berth. Nigeria also failed to qualify.
Asia
Teams qualified (9): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq
What happened on Tuesday? Iraq claimed the final World Cup spot as they won their nail-biting play-off final 2-1 against Bolivia. Luton Town frontman Ali Al-Hamadi headed Iraq in front after 10 minutes before Iraq saw their lead cancelled out Moises Paniagua, who equalised seven minutes before the break. But a goal from Aymen Hussein early in the second half sent Iraq to their first finals since 1986.
What happened in qualifying? Or, rather, what has happened since qualifying? Iran’s participation in the World Cup remains uncertain amid the ongoing war with the United States. Iran is set to play all three of its group games in the US. The president of the Iranian Football Federation has said the country will not travel to America, but Fifa says the World Cup schedule will go ahead as planned. “Iran will be at the FIFA World Cup,” Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday.
South America
Teams qualified (6): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay
What happened on Tuesday? It wasn’t to be for Bolivia in their play-off final, who after dispatching Suriname were unable to hold off Iraq in their bid to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1994.
What happened in qualifying? This was completed ages ago. World Cup champions Argentina became the first side to qualify, with Ecuador finishing as surprise runners-up. Brazil went through despite finishing fifth, with Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay also advancing.
Oceania
Teams qualified (1): New Zealand
What happened in qualifying? New Zealand are one of the benefactors of the expanded tournament, as they automatically qualified for the 2026 edition via the only place available to Oceanic nations rather than having to go through the intercontinental playoffs as at previous editions.
World Cup draw
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and 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, Sweden, Tunisia
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
