How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup: What will happen to Ronaldo and Portugal?

France become the 29th team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while Ronaldo and Portugal are in limbo. But Erling Haaland is about to make his first appearance at the world football festival.

Ronaldo and Portugal's 2026 World Cup tickets suddenly uncertain

Portugal only needed a draw with Ireland to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but Ronaldo's disastrous red card contributed to the European "Selecao" collapsing with a 0-2 defeat on November 14. This put them in a precarious position in their ability to qualify directly, even though they were already certain of a place in the play-off round.

Ronaldo and the Portuguese team have an uncertain chance of directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Reuters

Portugal (10 points) now have to wait until the final match against Armenia (already eliminated) at home at 9pm on November 16. With a win, they will be sure to get a ticket straight to the 2026 World Cup. If they lose or draw, and Hungary (8 points) cannot beat Ireland (7 points), Portugal will still have a ticket.

However, the situation remains complicated for Portugal. If Hungary beat Ireland and Portugal lose to Armenia, the final automatic qualification spot in this European zone's Group F will be decided by goal difference, potentially forcing Portugal into a play-off. This will add pressure and increase uncertainty around their participation in the 2026 World Cup.

Ireland are also a potential qualifier. If Heimir Hallgrimsson's side continue their shock run of beating Hungary and Portugal and losing to Armenia, both Ireland and Portugal will finish level on points.

In that case, goal difference will also decide which team gets the final direct spot, underlining the fierce competition in the group. Currently, Portugal have a goal difference of +5, Hungary +2 and Ireland +1.

Portugal's defeat to Ireland therefore highlighted the significant challenges in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, even for one of the strongest teams in the tournament's history.

For Ronaldo, who has been central to Portugal's international campaigns, his chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup remain intact, but the challenge has come and things are no longer as easy as a walk in the park.

If the Portuguese team regroups and quickly overcomes the shock of the loss to Ireland to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, then Ronaldo, who has just received his first red card in his record-breaking international career, will face the possibility of missing 1 to 2 group stage matches at the finals next summer.

Under FIFA's disciplinary regulations, referees must impose a ban of "at least two matches for serious foul play". This could be "at least three matches for violent conduct" or "at least three matches or a reasonable period for offensive conduct, including elbowing".

These were the actions that led to Ronaldo's red card, leaving him awaiting official punishment from FIFA, whether it be a two-match or three-match ban, or however long, based on reports from the referee after the match.

Mbappe and Erling Haaland do not miss the World Cup festival

Meanwhile, after this round of matches on November 14 ended, in the European region, the French team (beat Ukraine 4-0 with Mbappe scoring a double) became the second team after the English team in this region to directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The French team also became the 29th team to be present in the 2026 World Cup finals to date.

Mbappe and the French team have arrived at the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Reuters

In the European region (16 places in total), there are currently 10 direct places that will be determined in the final round from November 15 to November 19. In particular, the Norwegian team of striker Erling Haaland is also almost certain to have the next place at the 2026 World Cup, when they only need to draw with Italy in the last round or lose with a small score to get a ticket. Similarly, the teams of Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Croatia...

The runners-up will compete in the play-offs for the remaining four spots. The European play-offs will feature 16 teams in total, with 12 runners-up and the four best Nations League group winners. These 16 teams will be divided into four play-off brackets, with two decisive matches (semi-finals and final), with the winner qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

List of 29/48 teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals. Photo: Screenshot

In the CONCACAF region, the Suriname team won 4-0 against El Salvador (Group A), and is only one win away from a historic ticket to the 2026 World Cup against Guatemala on November 19 and if their opponent Panama (with the same 9 points) loses points.

The remaining strong teams in this region are also competing for tickets and have to wait until the last round, including Curacao (11 points) and Jamaica (10 points, Group B) and Honduras and Haiti, both with 8 points (Group C). In the African region, the two teams Nigeria and DR Congo will compete in the final match to compete for a place in the intercontinental play-off round, on November 17.

29 out of 48 teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, including the three co-hosts, the United States, Mexico and Canada, and 26 teams that have qualified as of November 14. Of these, the Asian region (8 teams) are Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia and Qatar, with Saudi Arabia being the two newest teams after the fourth qualifying round; 6 teams from the South American region are Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay; 1 team from the Oceania region is New Zealand; and 9 teams from the African region are Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. The European region, teams England and France.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/da-co-bao-nhieu-doi-du-world-cup-2026-ronaldo-va-bo-dao-nha-se-ra-sao-185251114111302.htm