Four teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup for the first time.

Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Curacao will be the newcomers to the biggest football event on the planet in the summer of 2026.

ZNews•19/11/2025

On the morning of November 19th, Curacao secured a historic ticket to the 2026 World Cup after a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in the final match of Group H of the CONCACAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They became the smallest nation, with a population of only about 150,000 people, to participate in the World Cup for the first time.

Last month, Cape Verde defeated Eswatini 3-0 to overtake contender Cameroon and secure their first-ever World Cup qualification. Never having participated in the World Cup before, and with only modest achievements in the Africa Cup of Nations, this tiny island nation off the coast of West Africa, with a population of just around 600,000, has achieved a remarkable feat.

Jordan , the runner-up of the 2023 Asian Cup, is showing impressive form and a strong squad. This is Jordan's first appearance at the most prestigious tournament on the planet, marking a major turning point for a team that is rising to become a regional powerhouse.

Uzbekistan finally overcame their Asian qualifying nightmare, despite their consistently high-rated footballing nation. Uzbekistan had never previously participated in the World Cup as an independent country. To prepare for the 2026 World Cup, the Uzbekistan Football Federation invited Fabio Cannavaro to lead the national team.

The 2026 World Cup qualifiers also witnessed miracles and historic milestones. Haiti convincingly secured their ticket to the biggest football event on the planet by defeating Nicaragua 2-0 in the CONCACAF region. People poured into the streets to celebrate their return to the World Cup after a 51-year wait.

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Austria drew 1-1 with Bosnia in their final European qualifying match on the morning of November 19th, securing their place in the World Cup next summer. The last time the Central European nation participated in the world's biggest football tournament was in 1998, where they were eliminated in the group stage, alongside Italy, Chile, and Cameroon.

At the same time, Scotland defeated Denmark 4-2 and secured their place in the 2026 World Cup. Many of the home team's players broke down in tears as they brought home their first World Cup ticket since 1998.

Norway secured direct qualification to North and Central America by finishing above Italy in Group I of the European qualifying round. This marks the first time in almost three decades that fans of the Scandinavian nation have been able to enjoy the atmosphere of the most anticipated international football tournament.

When FIFA expanded the World Cup to 48 teams, President Gianni Infantino said: "An additional 16 teams means an additional 16 nations are allowed to dream." Now, that dream has come true, although concerns about the quality of play remain. But for many fans, the moment these smaller teams step onto the biggest stage on the planet is the complete beauty of the World Cup.

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