Iraq Seal Final Spot as Full FIFA World Cup 2026 Lineup Confirmed
The final list of teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is now confirmed, with Iraq securing the last available spot and completing the lineup
The final list of teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is now confirmed, with Iraq securing the last available spot and completing the lineup for what promises to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date.
For the first time in history, the World Cup will feature 48 national teams, significantly expanding from the traditional format.
The competition will take place across North America, with matches hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
This new structure is expected to bring more diversity and global representation to the tournament, while also increasing the number of matches and overall excitement.
Among the teams that had already secured qualification earlier is the Iran national football team, who are set to compete in Group G.
They will face strong opposition from the Belgium national football team, the Egypt national football team, and the New Zealand national football team. This group is already shaping up to be highly competitive, with a mix of experienced squads and emerging challengers.
Iraq’s qualification came after a determined campaign, earning them a place in Group I. There, they will go up against formidable opponents, including the France national football team, the Senegal national football team, and the Norway national football team.
Their success marks a significant milestone and highlights their resilience throughout the lengthy qualification process.
That process itself was one of the most extensive in football history, stretching over 937 days and featuring 899 matches worldwide. Across those games, a total of 2,527 goals were scored, resulting in an average of 2.8 goals per match.
The scale of the qualifiers reflects the expanded format and the increased number of participating nations.
In Europe, the final qualification spots were decided through intense play-off matches. Several teams rose to the occasion, including the Czech Republic national football team, the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, the Türkiye national football team, and the Sweden national football team, all of whom secured their places after dramatic encounters.
Meanwhile, attention shifted to Mexico for the intercontinental play-offs. The DR Congo national football team confirmed their qualification with a narrow 1–0 victory over the Jamaica national football team in Guadalajara.
Their reward is a challenging opening match against the Portugal national football team, scheduled for June 17 in Houston.
These play-off matches also served as a preview of the tournament’s host venues. Cities such as Guadalajara and Monterrey welcomed over 163,000 spectators across four fixtures, offering a glimpse of the atmosphere expected during the main event.
The tournament will officially run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring a total of 104 matches spread across 16 host cities. Organisers anticipate that more than six million fans will attend matches in person, while billions of viewers around the world will follow the action remotely.
Following the conclusion of the qualification phase, minor scheduling adjustments have been made. A Group D match involving the Türkiye national football team and the Paraguay national football team will now begin one hour earlier than originally planned. Additionally, the fixture between the Brazil national football team and the Haiti national football team has been moved forward by 30 minutes.
With all teams confirmed and preparations well underway, anticipation continues to build for a historic World Cup that is set to redefine the global game.
