TL;DR
- Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde have confirmed their 2026 FIFA World Cup debut appearances.
- These nations secured their spots by finishing high in their respective qualification groups.
- Curacao also qualified, becoming the smallest nation to ever reach the tournament.
- Several other teams like North Macedonia and Albania are aiming for debut spots via playoffs.
JUMP TO:
During most four-year World Cup intervals, a handful of nations achieve qualification for the prestigious FIFA event, marking their inaugural appearance in this esteemed competition.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches and qualification nears completion, several teams could make their tournament debut in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This particular occasion is significant because the increase to 48 teams offers an unprecedented opportunity for less prominent countries to participate, recognizing that additional slots translate into a more achievable route to securing a sought-after spot in the final tournament.
AllSportsPeople provides a breakdown of the World Cup debutants who have already confirmed a place at the 2026 competition, plus others eyeing a potential spot if they maintain their current level.
MORE: How the 2026 World Cup draw will work and who is sorted into which pot
Nations debut at 2026 FIFA World Cup
The following nations have clinched a spot in the 2026 World Cup field who have never previously appeared at the tournament.
| Nation | FIFA Rank | Confederation | Qualified Via |
| Uzbekistan | 54 | AFC | 2nd place — Group A |
| Jordan | 62 | AFC | 2nd place — Group B |
| Cape Verde | 70 | CAF | 1st place — Group D |
MORE: Host countries, cities for FIFA 2026 World Cup | Teams qualified for 2026 World Cup
Uzbekistan
Since its establishment in 1994 as an independent nation following the Soviet Union's collapse, Uzbekistan has gradually ascended in international standing. The country has demonstrated competitiveness at the youth level for several years, advancing to the knockout stage of the U-20 World Cup in 2013, 2015, and 2023, and securing Asian Cup championships across various age categories.
In 2014, they nearly succeeded, losing to Jordan in a penalty shootout during the AFC qualifier for the intercontinental playoff, following a 2-2 tie.
Jordan
Jordan became a FIFA member in 1958 but didn't participate in World Cup qualifiers until the 1986 cycle. Their near miss was in 2014, reaching the intercontinental playoff only to be decisively beaten 5-0 by Uruguay in the crucial game.
In 2026, they received a favorable qualifying draw for the AFC third round, securing an automatic berth by finishing second in their group behind South Korea, which relegated Iraq and Oman to compete in subsequent rounds.
Cape Verde
This tiny island nation off the west coast of Africa, with a population of around 600,000 people, has qualified for its first-ever World Cup in 2026. In doing so, they beat CAF giants Cameroon to the top spot in their group, eclipsing the five-time AFCON winners by a full four points.
Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975 and starting their national team football program in 1978, the Blue Sharks have only participated in World Cup qualifying matches starting with the 2002 cycle. Before the 2026 cycle, where they secured victory in eight out of ten qualifying games, their best performance in World Cup qualifying had never exceeded four wins in a single edition.
Curacao
Curacao secured their spot in the World Cup by drawing 0-0 with Jamaica in their last CONCACAF qualifier, making them the smallest nation to ever reach the tournament.
Teams aiming for their first World Cup appearance are on the road to 2026 qualification through the playoffs.
These countries, making their debut appearances at a FIFA World Cup, advanced to either the UEFA or inter-confederation playoff stages.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia headed into a winner-takes-all clash with Wales in Cardiff on the final matchday in UEFA Group J, with a playoff place behind group winners Belgium up for grabs.
Blagoja Milevski's team faced a humbling experience as Wales secured a decisive 7-1 victory. Nevertheless, North Macedonia found some solace in securing a place among the four best-ranked 2024/25 Nations League group winners who did not qualify for the playoffs.
Suriname
Suriname occupied first place in Group A prior to the last CONCACAF matches, tied with Panama in points. Nevertheless, a 3-1 loss on the road against the already eliminated Guatemala relegated them to the inter-confederation playoff.
Albania
Albania secured a vital 1-0 away win against Serbia in October, enabling them to finish ahead of their close rivals and take second position in UEFA Group K, trailing only the dominant winners, England.
This earned a place in March's UEFA playoff round.
Kosovo
Kosovo secured a comfortable second position in Group B, trailing only Switzerland, and suffered just a single defeat, while both Slovenia and Sweden experienced disappointing tournaments.
Sweden might be a potential opponent once more, given that the Scandinavian country secured one of the four playoff berths determined by their performance in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia did not join FIFA until 2004, becoming the governing body's 205th member. Victory over Tahiti in the OFC third-round semifinal ensured at least a playoff spot.
New Zealand secured Oceania's sole automatic qualification berth by Defeating New Caledonia in the championship match, marking the first occasion the confederation has received such a spot, a consequence of the competition's enlarged structure.