As the excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 17 nations from around the world have officially secured their places in football’s most prestigious tournament. With the expanded 48-team format, qualification has taken on new intensity, and several countries have already emerged from their regional qualifiers victorious.

The three host nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—earned automatic qualification, setting the stage for an unprecedented North American joint-hosting.

This historic collaboration marks the first time the World Cup will be hosted across three countries, promising a diverse and wide-reaching celebration of the global game.

READ ALSO:W’Cup Qualifiers: Super Eagles Edge Rwanda 1-0 To Revive Qualification Hopes

In Asia, Japan became the first team to secure qualification on March 20, 2025, followed closely by Iran on March 25. New Zealand clinched Oceania’s guaranteed spot with a decisive 3–0 victory over New Caledonia on March 24.

South America, as expected, saw heavyweights seal their places. Argentina qualified after a crucial draw between Uruguay and Bolivia on March 25. Later, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia booked their places between June and early September, ensuring strong representation from the continent.

Of the countries on the radar, Australia remains the only nation yet to confirm qualification. The Socceroos are still fighting for a spot in the Asian qualifying rounds.

Current List of qualified nations

READ ALSO:[FULL LIST] 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Egypt, Ivory Coast, Tunisia Lead Groups

USA – Qualified (Host)
Mexico – Qualified (Host)
Canada – Qualified (Host)
Japan – Qualified (March 20, 2025)
New Zealand – Qualified (March 24, 2025)
Iran – Qualified (March 25, 2025)
Jordan qualified from Asia
South Korea qualified from Asia
Uzbekistan Qualified from Asia

Australia – Qualified (June 5, 2025)
Brazil – Qualified (June 10, 2025)
Ecuador – Qualified (June 10, 2025)
Uruguay – Qualified (Early September 2025)
Paraguay – Qualified (Early September 2025)
Colombia – Qualified (Early September 2025)
Argentina qualified in early September
Morocco qualified as the first country from CAF

With qualification ongoing in several confederations, the focus now shifts to Europe, Africa, and the remaining Asian teams. Football fans worldwide eagerly await the final list, promising an exciting 2026 World Cup filled with new rivalries and thrilling showdowns.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to make history as the first edition hosted across three countries—United States, Mexico, and Canada, with countries around the world already considering how easy or difficult it will be for their fans to secure a US visa in time for the tournament.

The U.S. will stage the bulk of the action, hosting 78 of the 104 matches, including the final, in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Seattle.

With millions of fans worldwide preparing to travel for the tournament next June, one big question stands out: Can I get a U.S. tourist visa in time?

The U.S. Department of State recently released updated visa wait time data, showing which countries are most likely—and least likely—to secure a B1/B2 tourist visa before the opening match on June 11, 2026.

READ ALSO:[FULL LIST] 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Egypt, Ivory Coast, Tunisia Lead Groups

Adding to the challenge, a new policy takes effect on August 20, 2025, requiring B1/B2 travelers from Malawi and Zambia to pay a visa bond of up to $15,000 under a pilot program.

What Visa Do Fans Need?
Spectators traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup will generally need a B1/B2 visa, the standard U.S. visitor visa for tourism and short-term travel. This visa allows stays of up to six months, covering trips to matches, tourism, and visits to family or friends.

However, citizens of 42 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries—including most of Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Australia—can visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they apply through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

READ ALSO:W’Cup Qualifiers: Super Eagles Edge Rwanda 1-0 To Revive Qualification Hopes

Countries Most Likely to Get a Visa in Time
Based on current wait times as of August 2025, fans from the following countries are more likely to secure a visa before the tournament if they apply early:

Algeria – 4.5 months
Argentina – < 3 months
Brazil – < 3 months
Cameroon – < 3 months
China – < 3 months
Ecuador (Guayaquil) – 7.5 months
Egypt – < 3 months
El Salvador – < 3 months
Iraq – < 3 months
Jamaica – < 3 months
Jordan – < 3 months
Mali – < 3 months
Mexico (Mexicali) – < 3 months
Mexico (Nogales) – < 3 months
Mexico (Nuevo Laredo) – < 3 months
Morocco – 6 months
Oman – < 3 months
Panama – < 3 months
Paraguay – < 3 months
Saudi Arabia – < 3 months
Senegal – < 3 months
Serbia – < 3 months
Trinidad and Tobago – < 3 months
Tunisia – < 3 months
United Arab Emirates – < 3 months
Uruguay – < 3 months
Uzbekistan – < 3 months
Countries Least Likely to Get a Visa in Time
Fans in the following countries face some of the longest visa wait times, making it harder to secure approval before kickoff:

Ecuador (Quito) – 9 months
Ghana – 9.5 months
Mexico (Matamoros) – 8.5 months
Mexico (Mexico City) – 8.5 months
Mexico (Monterrey) – 10 months
Nigeria (Abuja) – 9.5 months
Peru – 8 months

African 2026 World Cup qualifying tables after matches on Friday (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Group A

Egypt 7 6 1 0 16 2 19

Burkina Faso 7 4 2 1 19 7 14

Sierra Leone 7 2 3 2 8 8 9

Guinea-Bissau 7 1 4 2 6 8 7

Ethiopia 7 1 3 3 7 9 6

Djibouti 7 0 1 6 4 26 1

Group B

DR Congo 7 5 1 1 11 3 16

Senegal 7 4 3 0 10 1 15

Sudan 7 3 3 1 8 4 12

Mauritania 7 1 2 4 4 9 5

Togo 7 0 4 3 4 9 4

South Sudan 7 0 3 4 3 14 3

READ ALSO:I Still Call My Mum To Ask How Long To Boil Rice – DJ Cuppy

Group C

South Africa 7 5 1 1 13 5 16

Benin 7 3 2 2 7 7 11

Rwanda 6 2 2 2 4 4 8

Nigeria 6 1 4 1 7 6 7

Lesotho 7 1 3 3 4 8 6

Zimbabwe 7 0 4 3 5 10 4

Group E

Morocco 6 6 0 0 19 2 18 – qualified

Tanzania 6 3 1 2 6 5 10

Zambia 5 2 0 3 9 7 6

Niger 5 2 0 3 6 9 6

Congo 6 0 1 5 3 20 1

— Eritrea withdrew before matchday 1

READ ALSO:[FULL LIST] World Cup: Nigeria, Others Face Elimination

Group F

Ivory Coast 7 6 1 0 15 0 19

Gabon 7 6 0 1 16 6 18

Burundi 7 3 1 3 13 8 10

Gambia 7 2 1 4 15 14 7

Kenya 7 1 3 3 12 11 6

Seychelles 7 0 0 7 2 34 0

Group G

Algeria 7 6 0 1 19 7 18

Uganda 7 4 0 3 10 7 12

Mozambique 7 4 0 3 10 15 12

Guinea 7 3 1 3 7 5 10

Botswana 7 3 0 4 10 11 9

Somalia 7 0 1 6 3 14 1

READ ALSO:Brazil Names Squad Without Neymar, Vinicius For World Cup Qualifiers [FULL LIST]

Group H

Tunisia 7 6 1 0 12 0 19

Namibia 7 3 3 1 9 4 12

Liberia 7 3 1 3 7 7 10

Eq. Guinea 7 3 1 3 7 10 10

Malawi 7 3 0 4 6 7 9

Sao Tome 7 0 0 7 4 17 0

Note: Group winners qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The four best-ranked runners-up enter a mini tournament and the winners qualify for the six-nation inter-continental play-offs with two finals places up for grabs

AFP