The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, finally has its full field of 48 teams. The tournament is scheduled to run from the opening match on Thursday, June 11, to the grand final on Sunday, July 19.
Following the conclusion of the intercontinental playoffs, four teams have officially secured their absolute debut in a World Cup—all of whom had clinched their spots prior to the recent FIFA window.
Curacao, Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will play in the World Cup for the first time in their histories. There is a slight distinction for the DR Congo; while the name appears for the first time, the nation previously competed in 1974 under the name Zaire.
Breaking down the World Cup debutants
Jordan
After playing their first official match in 1953, Jordan’s recent growth made this feat possible. The expansion of the tournament to 48 teams—and the resulting 8.5 slots for Asia—allowed them to punch their ticket by finishing second in their group during the second qualifying round.
Jordan National Team. (Getty Images)
Currently ranked No. 63 in the FIFA World Rankings, Jordan are set to share a group with none other than the defending champions, Argentina. Both teams will compete in Group J, which also features Austria and Algeria.
This historic debut comes after years of knocking on the door. Jordan previously came agonizingly close to qualifying during the 2014 World Cup edition, where they reached the Intercontinental Play-off but ultimately fell to Uruguay, falling just one step short of the tournament.
Uzbekistan
As one of the successor teams of the former Soviet Union, Uzbekistan played their first official match in 1992 and has spent nearly 20 years building their presence on the international stage.
Uzbekistan National Team. (Getty Images)
Currently sitting at No. 50 in the FIFA World Rankings, the Uzbek squad secured its World Cup berth in mid-2025 after finishing second in its group during the third round of the Asian Qualifiers. Uzbekistan are set to compete in Group K alongside Portugal, DR Congo, and Colombia.
Curacao
After gaining independence from the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao began competing officially in CONCACAF following their affiliation with FIFA in 2011. Set to compete in Group E alongside Germany, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador, the national team holds the unique distinction of representing the least populous country to ever qualify for a World Cup in the tournament’s history.
Curacao National Team. (Getty Images)
Currently ranked No. 82 in the FIFA World Rankings, Curacao secured their historic qualification in November 2025 following a scoreless draw against Jamaica. This result allowed them to finish first in their final-round group and forced Jamaica into the inter-confederation play-offs, where they were ultimately eliminated by DR Congo.
Cape Verde
Currently ranked No. 69 in the FIFA World Rankings, Cape Verde played their first official match in 1978 and have since recorded four appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Their best historical results came in the 2013 and 2023 editions, where they reached the quarterfinal stage.
Cape Verde National Team. (Getty Images)
The Blue Sharks secured their historic first World Cup berth by finishing at the top of their group in the African Qualifiers. They are set to compete in Group H of the 2026 World Cup alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay.
