The 2026 FIFA World Cup lineup is now complete, with the final set of teams confirming their places after a dramatic end to the qualification cycle across regions.For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams, with co-hosts United States, Canada and Mexico qualifying automatically.The expanded format has increased representation across continents, but the closing stages showed that qualification remains highly competitive.Europe finalised its 16-team contingent, with Sweden, Turkey, Czech Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina progressing through the playoffs. Bosnia’s penalty shootout win over Italy was among the standout results of the round.The other two teams were decided through the intercontinental playoffs, completing the global field. The tournament brought together teams from five confederations — Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), South America (CONMEBOL), North and Central America (CONCACAF) and Oceania (OFC) — in a short knockout format.Iraq secured qualification by defeating Bolivia in the decisive playoff, while DR Congo national football team booked their place after overcoming Jamaica in another tightly contested match. With single-leg fixtures and no margin for recovery, the playoff route once again underlined how fine the margins are, where one performance can define an entire qualification campaign.Across other regions, qualification largely followed expected lines, with traditional powers securing their places over longer campaigns. At the same time, the expanded format has allowed more teams from Asia and Africa to enter the tournament, reflecting a broader spread of competitiveness in international football.With all 48 teams now confirmed, the focus now shifts to the tournament itself. For the first time in history, the World Cup will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, to be played across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, bringing a new scale and a different kind of challenge for teams.