Here's how the qualified teams stack up as the full list of 48 teams is now complete
By Francesco Porzio Apr 3, 2026 at 11:49 am ET • 1 min read 
CBS Sports design The stage is now set, and after the playoffs that took place over the last week in Europe and in Mexico, we now have the final list of teams that will feature at the 2026 World Cup, the first ever with 48 teams involved in the tournament. The World Cup will kick off on June 11, and the 104 matches will be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Italy lost on penalty kicks to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third straight edition in the latest disaster for the iconic national team. Joining Bosnia out of Europe were Sweden, Czechia, and Turkiye, while Congo DR beat Jamaica in their playoff final, while Iraq topped Bolivia in theirs. Let's recap all the groups before taking a look at our power rankings ahead of the tournament:
- Group A: Mexico, Korea Republic, South Africa, Czechia
- Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
- Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkiye
- Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
- Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
- Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
- Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo
- Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Spain They've got Lamine Yamal and even if his season so far hasn't been at the level of last year, we can expect them to be the best team in the tournament. Will it be the World Cup of Spain's young star? -- 2 
Argentina It will be the last World Cup of Lionel Messi and this is something really emotional for millions of people around the world. A "Last Dance" in the United States where he's playing with Inter Miami seems written in the stars. -- 3 
France Kylian Mbappe will immediately face Erling Haaland's Norway in the group stage, one of the best matchups of the tournament. Didier Deschamps will try to win his second World Cup as a manager before leaving for (almost certainly) Zinedine Zidane. -- 4 
Brazil The five-time world champions hired Carlo Ancelotti to win the World Cup for the first time since 2002. The question is: Will the Italian call Neymar Jr ahead of the summer? He's still in doubt, but a last-minute call might put even more pressure on both the team and the coach. -- 5 
England Will they bring the World Cup home for the first time since 1966. They hired Thomas Tuchel to make it happen, after losing two consecutive European finals in 2021 and 2024. They've got Harry Kane, who has already scored 48 goals this season with Bayern Munich. -- 6 
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup will be a historic moment, but this Portugal side is strong enough to dream big and doesn't necessarily need to rely on him. He will get the headlines, but this team is much more than Ronaldo and ready for a future without him. -- 7 
Norway Haaland scored 55 goals with Norway in 49 games. Yes, that's correct and he'll be ready for his first ever World Cup after winning a group that contained Italy in the qualifiers. -- 8 
Germany When there is a World Cup there is always Germany, a team that's won it four times already. However, they don't seem at the level of the past decades but they've got a new talented player they should trust: Lennart Karl. -- 9 
Netherlands They can be one of the most underrated sides of the tournament and they have a combination of experienced players and some new talent that can help them to achieve success, but don't see them as a potential semifinalist candidate. -- 10 
Morocco The biggest surprise of the 2022 World Cup will arrive at the tournament after the unexpected decision of AFCON to crown them as winners of the tournament two months after losing it on the pitch against Senegal. It might also increase the pressure on them. -- 11 
United States I don't want to ruin the dreams of the fans or the ones of Mauricio Pochettino, but we shouldn't overrate them too much. Anything beyond the Round of 32 would be a great achievement. -- 12 
Belgium They still depend on the performances of Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku and this is worrying considering the form and health of the two Napoli players. -- 13 
Uruguay Marcelo Bielsa is back at the World Cup after he managed Argentina in 2002 and Chile in 2010. With him, we will have fun on and off the pitch. -- 14 
Turkiye Vincenzo Montella's team is full of talents that can shine at the highest stage of the world. One of many? Kenan Yildiz. 31 15 
Japan Watch out for Japan because they are solid and full of talent. You read it here first, they might be the underdogs of the World Cup. 1 16 
Senegal The chaos of the AFCON final might give them even more motivation to show other teams they are the best African team at the World Cup. 8 17 
Croatia Another team and another legend who is set to play his last World Cup: 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric will play his last matches at the tournament with his national team before making a decision also on his future with AC Milan. 1 18 
Mexico They have the potential to at least qualify for the round of 32 but watch out for their opponents. The fact they will play in front of their home fans the opening matches can become a factor and a big help to reach the top 16. 1 19 
Switzerland Without Italy in the group they have an even better chance to win the first phase against Canada, Bosnia and Qatar. They are always a solid team when it comes to the World Cup. 1 20 
Sweden They brought in Graham Potter to salvage a World Cup spot despite failing to win a single game in their qualifying group. So how did they pull it off? A favorable Nations League ranking gave them a second chance, and they made it count in the playoffs. 24 21 
Ecuador La Tri only conceded five goals in 17 matches played in World Cup qualifying, something that really stands out ahead of the tournament. Moises Caicedo is their engine. 2 22 
Iran Iran dominated their group stage in qualification, losing only one of the 10 games played. Of course, what is going on in their country might have also an impact at the World Cup. If they end up attending. 2 23 
Canada Jesse Marsch will lead Canada at the 2026 World Cup that will be played on their home soil. Italy's failure to qualify again can give them a bigger chance to qualify for the round of 32, but they should be careful. 2 24 
Austria Led by Ralf Rangnick, this is a team I'm really curious to see. They are building a long-term project, and this is just the beginning. 2 25 
Egypt The African team has failed to win a single match in their World Cup history with an overall record of five defeats and two draws. With Mo Salah, this trends need to change. 2 26 
Korea Republic Son Heung-Min is set to play what will be his last World Cup and this is something we should take into account, but there are other players that can help. 11 27 
Scotland They desperately need the best version of Scott McTominay, the 2024-25 Serie A MVP, to have a realistic shot of advancing. They are in the worst group possible with Brazil and Morocco. 2 28 
Colombia Colombia's seventh World Cup appearance comes from a strong qualification group when they ended up tied on points with teams such as Brazil and Uruguay. They will face Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in the group stage. 1 29 
Czechia They made it to the World Cup thanks to the playoffs. They are back 20 years after the last time. 17 30 
Saudi Arabia After a disappointing spell under Roberto Mancini, who left the team in 2024, Saudi Arabia called back Herve Renard and will face Spain, Uruguay and Cabo Verde in the group stage. But there are rumours he might leave before the World Cup. 4 31 
Tunisia With 22 goals scored, none conceded, nine wins and one draw, Tunisia have been one of the most impressive teams in the qualifiers. They can be an outsider. 3 32 
Cote d'Ivoire They did not concede a single goal in the group stage of qualifying, scoring 25 times across 10 matches and finishing with eight wins and two draws. 3 33 
Qatar The 2022 World Cup hosts managed to qualify for their second time ever at the World Cup and are coached by former Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui, who will finally lead a team at the tournament after what happened with Spain in 2018, when he was sacked only a few hours before the kick off of the tournament as he agreed to join Real Madrid after the World Cup. 3 34 
Paraguay It will be the first time Paraguay will play at the World Cup since 2010 and they will face the USMNT in the group stage. 3 35 
Ghana The African side delivered a strong qualifying campaign, winning eight of their 10 matches, but they were really unlucky to get both England and Croatia. 3 36 
Bosnia-Herzegovina They eliminated Italy in the playoffs and they deserve respect. Edin Dzeko is a legendary striker and will play at the World Cup again. This is great. 7 37 
Australia In 2022, they only lost to Argentina in the round of 16 and they are always a fascinating team to follow at the World Cup. 4 38 
Algeria Algeria can compete with Jordan and Austria for a spot in the round of 32, no doubt. 4 39 
Jordan Jordan made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. I'm expecting a lot of passion from this team. 4 40 
South Africa Bafana Bafana are back at the World Cup for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 2010, and for the first time in the history, the opening match of the World Cup will be a second timer, with South Africa facing Mexico. 4 41 
Iraq Their second World Cup qualification after the one at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, what a story! 7 42 
Haiti The 2026 World Cup will mark Haiti's second appearance at the tournament, their first since 1974, but sadly they don't have much chance to do better this time as they will face Brazil, Morocco and Scotland in the group. 5 43 
Panama After qualifying for the 2018 World Cup when they lost all three games against England, Belgium and Tunisia, they will face the Three Lions again, hoping to do better. 5 44 
Cabo Verde They qualified for the first time ever and they are ready to shock the world as they have already done in the qualification stages. 5 45 
Uzbekistan Another team that will feature at the World Cup for the first time in their history, and they will be led by 2006 Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, their coach. 5 46 
DR Congo They surprised everyone last December at the 2025 AFCON when they only lost 1-0 at the Round of 16 against Algeria. Can they replicate the success at the World Cup? 1 47 
New Zealand Same group with Belgium, Iran and Egypt. Hard to think they can get points here. 6 48 
Curacao The smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup will face giants like Germany, Cote d'Ivoire and Ecuador. Sadly, their former manager Dick Advocaat who led the team to the qualification resigned for personal reasons and won't lead the team at the World Cup. 6 Join the Conversation comments 
