Jordan and Uzbekistan have secured historic qualifications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time either nation will participate in the global showpiece.
South Korea also booked their place in the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The trio become the eighth, ninth and tenth nations to confirm qualification for the 2026 edition. They join host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada, along with Japan, New Zealand, Iran, and reigning world champions Argentina.
Uzbekistan’s goalless draw with the United Arab Emirates was enough to see them through, while South Korea’s 2-0 win over Iraq later in the day secured their 11th straight World Cup appearance. Jordan, who earlier defeated Oman 3-0, were confirmed as qualifiers following South Korea’s result.
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Ranked 57th in the world, Uzbekistan first competed as an independent nation in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and joined FIFA in 1994. Their qualification is a major milestone for a country with a population of around 36 million.
Jordan’s qualification marks another remarkable achievement for Asian football, with the national team set to appear on the world stage for the first time in its history.
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Teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup so far:
- United States (hosts)
- Mexico (hosts)
- Canada (hosts)
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Iran
- Argentina
- Uzbekistan
- Jordan
- South Korea
A total of 48 teams will compete at the 2026 tournament, with 38 spots still up for grabs in the ongoing qualification process.
