For the first time, 48 nations compete at a single World Cup. Here's a guide to who they are, what to expect, and which players to watch.
The nations most likely to lift the trophy on July 19.
France arrives with a squad combining the electric pace of Kylian Mbappé — arguably the best player in the world — with the tactical sophistication and physical depth of a nation that produces elite talent generation after generation. The 2018 champions are built for knockout football.
Five-time champions and perennial favourites — Brazil are the nation most associated with the World Cup. The 2026 squad is highly creative and technically gifted with a generation of young attacking talent emerging from South America's most powerful soccer nation.
The 2022 champions return to defend. Lionel Messi — widely regarded as the greatest player ever — may compete in his final World Cup at age 38. Watching whether Messi can add to his 2022 triumph or how Argentina copes if he can't perform at 100% will be one of the defining storylines of the tournament.
Spain won the 2024 European Championship in style, playing the kind of technically demanding, positionally precise football that makes them a nightmare for any opponent. With a young, fearless squad, Spain arrives at 2026 in their strongest position since the golden era of 2008–2012.
Four-time champions. Germany hosted and won Euro 2024 (just kidding — they lost in the quarterfinals), but the tournament showed renewed energy with a young generation. Under their current manager, Germany are rebuilding toward a harder-edged, more direct style that suits knockout football.
England reached the Euro 2024 Final before losing to Spain. Their only World Cup title came on home soil in 1966 — but a golden generation including top Premier League talent makes them genuine contenders. The question mark, as always, is whether they perform when it matters most.
USA, Canada, and Mexico qualify automatically and hold home-crowd advantages throughout the group stage.
The USMNT is in a rebuilding phase after failing to qualify for 2018, but a strong 2022 showing proved the squad has genuine ability. Christian Pulisic leads a talented core. Playing on home soil with massive crowds behind them could unlock something special. Reaching the quarterfinals is the realistic goal; going further would be one of the great World Cup stories.
Canada's 2022 World Cup was their first appearance since 1986. As a co-host in 2026, they automatically qualify for their second consecutive tournament. Their squad — led by Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich — is talented and improving. Canadian soccer is in the middle of a generational surge in quality.
Mexico has reached the Round of 16 in seven consecutive World Cups — a remarkable streak. The opening match at Azteca will be an occasion unlike anything in North American sports. El Tri's passionate fanbase will travel en masse to matches across the US and Mexico alike.
New to the sport? Start here. These are the household names whose moments of magic tend to decide tournaments — and the ones casual fans will hear about most.
France's captain and the player many rank as the best on the planet. A World Cup winner in 2018 and a hat-trick scorer in the 2022 final, his blistering pace makes him the tournament's most feared attacker.
A relentless goal machine making his World Cup debut after Norway ended a long absence from the finals. His mix of power, speed, and finishing makes him a leading contender for the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament's top scorer.
England's number 10 and one of the most complete young midfielders in the game. He defends, drives forward, and arrives in the box to score — carrying the creative load as England chase a first World Cup since 1966.
Brazil's electric left winger and a nightmare for defenders in one-on-one situations. After a surge in form under manager Carlo Ancelotti, he is the focal point of a Brazil side hunting a record-extending sixth title.
The face of American soccer and the USMNT's most important attacker. Captain Christian Pulisic carries home-nation expectations on his shoulders — if the US are to make a deep run on home soil, much will flow through him.
FIFA allocates World Cup spots by confederation — the six regional governing bodies of world soccer.
France, Spain, Germany, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Türkiye, Scotland, Czech Republic and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Europe's allocation nearly doubled in the expanded format.
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay. CONMEBOL qualifies via a round-robin league — the most grueling, competitive qualification format in the world.
Hosts USA, Canada and Mexico, plus Panama, Haiti and Curaçao. CONCACAF nations benefit enormously from the home-territory format — and Curaçao are one of the smallest nations ever to reach a World Cup.
Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Cape Verde and DR Congo. Africa's biggest-ever allocation — and Cape Verde have already made history reaching the knockouts.
Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and Uzbekistan — the last two making their World Cup debuts. Asia's largest-ever allocation reflects the continent's growing soccer investment.
New Zealand are Oceania's representative, drawn in Group G. The OFC has historically needed an intercontinental playoff to qualify — the expanded field handed them a direct route.