Teams which have qualified for the 2026 World Cup

A record 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

On Tuesday, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland and Austria secured Europe’s remaining automatic spots. Later, Curaçao, Panama and Haiti secured the three spots available in North and Central America and the Caribbean conference (CONCACAF).

A total of 43 teams will earn places through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will secure places in the intercontinental playoffs featuring six teams. The three host countries automatically qualify.

Asia has eight direct places and one — Iraq — in the six-team intercontinental playoff to be played in Mexico in March .

Africa has nine direct spots plus one — Congo — in the intercontinental playoff.

North and Central America and the Caribbean received three direct berths (plus the three host nations) and another two spots — Jamaica and Suriname — in the intercontinental playoffs.

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

Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot — New Zealand clinched that in March. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs.

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

United States, Mexico, Canada (automatically as hosts)

Algeria

Cape Verde

Egypt

Ghana

Ivory Coast

Morocco

Senegal

South Africa

Tunisia

Australia

Iran

Japan

Jordan

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

Uzbekistan

Austria

Belgium

Croatia

England

France

Germany

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Scotland

Spain

Switzerland

New Zealand

Argentina

Brazil

Colombia

Ecuador

Paraguay

Uruguay

Curaçao

Panama

Haiti

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

Spanish national team players react at the end of the 2026 World Cup qualifier group E soccer match between Spain and Turkey in Seville, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Belgium's Nicolas Raskin greets fans after the 2026 World Cup group J qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Liechtenstein in Liege, Belgium, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Netherlands' Xavi Simons, top, is congratulated after scoring his side's 3rd goal during a World Cup 2026 group G qualifying soccer match between Netherlands and Lithuania in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Germany's Assan Ouedraogo, center, celebrates after scoring during a group A World Cup qualifiying soccer match between Germany and Slovakia in Leipzig, Germany, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Croat players celebret as they qualified for the World Cup aftre defeating Faroe Islands in Rijeka, Croatia, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

MONTREAL (AP) — Macklin Celebrini had two goals and an assist to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Collin Graf had a goal and two assists and Mario Ferraro also scored for San Jose, which ended Montreal’s three-game winning streak. John Klingberg finished with two assists, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots.

Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki scored for Montreal, and Noah Dobson had two assists. Jakub Dobes made 17 saves.

The Canadiens held third place in the Atlantic Division, four points behind the division-leading Buffalo Sabres with two games in hand, heading into Saturday’s games.

The Sharks were one point shy of the Los Angeles Kings for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, with two fewer games played.

Caufield opened the scoring at 7:21 in the first period, beating Nedeljkovic with a wrist shot for his career-best 38th goal of the season.

Celebrini tied the game with his 34th at 13:12. Ferraro later floated a wrist shot from the point and fooled Dobes before Celebrini’s attempt deflected off Graf’s leg, giving San Jose a 3-1 lead at 16:20 in the second.

Suzuki beat Nedeljkovic on the glove side with 2:22 remaining in the second to cut the lead.

Celebrini sealed the win, scoring his second of the game into an empty net at 17:56 in the third.

San Jose rookie forward Igor Chernyshov left early in the first period after a scary fall. Chernyshov collided with Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson in the neutral zone before losing his balance twice when he attempted to stand up. San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said Chernyshov was released from the hospital and will travel with the team to Ottawa.

The 33rd overall draft pick in 2024, Chernyshov was playing in his 16th NHL game and his first since being recalled from the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. He has three goals and 11 points this season.

The Canadiens released a statement on social media, saying their thoughts were with Chernyshov.

Sharks: At Ottawa on Sunday.

Canadiens: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

San Jose Sharks' Igor Chernyshov (92) lies on the ice after being checked by Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson (not shown) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Jose Sharks' Igor Chernyshov (92) falls to the ice as he tries to stand following a check by Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson (not shown) as referee Eric Furlatt (right) helps during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Jose Sharks' Collin Graf (51) celebrates his goal in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75), Lane Hutson (48) and Alexandre Carrier (45) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) scores on San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini (71) celebrates his empty net goal with teammate Collin Graf (51) against the Montreal Canadiens during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)