Who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams, and defending champion Argentina on Tuesday became the first South American team to secure a spot. Iran also clinched a berth.

New Zealand qualified on Monday, five days after Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot.

Next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada kicks off on June 11 and the final will take place on July 19.

Forty-three teams will get their spots through their continent’s qualifying process. Another two will secure their berths in the international playoffs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026.

Asia will have eight direct berths and one in the intercontinental playoff.

Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental playoff.

North and Central America plus the Caribbean get three direct berths and another two spots in the intercontinental playoffs.

South America has six direct spots and will send another team to the intercontinental playoffs.

Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot at the World Cup, and New Zealand clinched that with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in Auckland. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs.

Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the next World Cup.

The three host countries automatically qualify — and thus occupy three of the CONCACAF spots

United States, Mexico, Canada

Japan (qualified on March 20 by beating Bahrain 2-0)

Iran (qualified on March 25 in 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan)

New Zealand (qualified on March 24 by beating New Caledonia 3-0)

Argentina (qualified on March 25 after Bolivia failed to beat Uruguay)

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Iranian fans celebrate after their team qualified for the 2026 Soccer World Cup by winning a soccer match between Iran and Uzbekistan in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez walks of the field with teammates after defeating Brazil in a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Japan's head coach Hajime Moriyasu acknowledges the applause from the crowd after their win against Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)