As of end of March, beginning of April in some parts of the world, FIFA World Cup 2026 has all its 48 participants decided. The first of its kind, about to start in June. I did make some predictions in December 2025, so now I stick with the colorful part of the story, the multicultural stuff and facts, some that might be something strange for some, but which I find myself very passionate about, considering I am very much a cultural explorer in many ways, and I am also very fascinated about things that happen worldwide. And there is no purer way to cruise thru thru the world, than grabbing beforehand the emotions from nations – and not limited to that! – of a top sports event. Indeed, the FIFA World Cup 2026 became more of a festival, with a lot of diluted competitional value by topping at 48 the number of participants, but the stories can live good and well in spite of this.
DR Congo and Haiti, back at the World Cup after half a century!
Some months back I was raising a rhetorical topic about DR Congo joining Haiti to both participate in 2026, after both participated only once before: in 1974! Yes, DR Congo made it. It was one of the last six nations yet to qualify, and they did put out Jamaica. What were the odds for these two, the only participants of the 1974 World Cup who awaited 52 years to participate again? Again, together. Few, of course, especially that in 1974 there were 16 participants, and now three time as many. OK, DR Congo was called back then Zaire, had a different flag, but the territory was the same. It is from the start a joint story to be savored at the competition this year.
Who played when?
Finding all technical details of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is easier and easier as time flies, so I’m not inundate the www with another cope paste version you can access facile. But I do want to ground the 12 group componence so to have a starting point in my former thoughts after the jigsaw was put together, and slight before the competition. Especially that we have some debuts, and also some fine stories to extend the conversation to. Also, for each participant I will put between brackets the number of participations – excluding 2026 – and also the year of the last participation for each.
Group A
- Mexico (17; 2022)
- South Africa (3; 2010)
- South Korea (11; 2022)
- Czech Republic (1; 2006)
Group B
- Canada (2; 2022)
- Bosnia & Herzegovina (1; 2014)
- Qatar (1; 2022)
- Switzerland (12; 2022)
Group C
- Brazil (22; 2022)
- Morocco (6; 2022)
- Haiti (1; 1974)
- Scotland (8; 1998)
Group D
- United States of America (11; 2022)
- Paraguay (8; 2010)
- Australia (6; 2022)
- Turkey (2; 2002)
Group E
- Germany (20; 2022)
- Curacao (debut)
- Ivory Coast (3; 2014)
- Ecuador (4; 2022)
Group F
- Netherlands (11; 2022)
- Japan (7; 2022)
- Sweden (12; 2018)
- Tunisia (6; 2022)
Group G
- Belgium (14; 2022)
- Egypt (3; 2018)
- Iran (6; 2022)
- New Zealand (2; 2010)
Group H
- Spain (16; 2022)
- Cape Verde (debut)
- Saudi Arabia (6; 2022)
- Uruguay (14; 2022)
Group I
- France (16; 2022)
- Senegal (3; 2022)
- Iraq (1; 1986)
- Norway (3; 1998)
Group J
- Argentina (18; 2022)
- Algeria (4; 2014)
- Austria (7; 1998)
- Jordan (debut)
Group K
- Portugal (8; 2022)
- RD Congo (1; 1974)
- Uzbekistan (debut)
- Colombia (6; 2018)
Group L
- England (16; 2022)
- Croatia (6; 2022)
- Ghana (4; 2022)
- Panama (1; 2018)
Africa, 10 nations at the World Cup!
If you take a peek at all 48 names from above, you realize 26 of them participated also in 2022, the last World Cup. From 32, as it was back then. On top of them, four from 2018. So then 30 are, more or less, common names. In fact, most of the names are just added, with the 16 brand new topping. For example, Africa has 10 nations participating, from a total of maximum five previously. A well deserved increase, considering the talent this continent hosts, or sends in Europe, mainly, but it is a discussion we need to prepare for 2030, when the expected numbers of participants is, as said… 64! So other 16 on top! Is there any way for a nation to not qualify?
Iraq, back after 40 years; Czech Republic first time in two decades
Apart from RD Congo, the other five nations qualified in the last run were: Iraq, another comeback, after exactly 40 years. Turkey, back after 24 years, when they reached the… semifinals! Czech Republic, who put out Republic of Ireland and Denmark on their way to their only second participation, after 2006, so two decades! Sweden, a quite common presence, rebounded after they earned in the initial qualification only… 2 points! From 24!!! And last, but not least… maybe the biggest surprise of them all: Bosnia & Herzegovina! It is their second qualification, after the one in 2014, so not a major novelty. However, Bosnia eliminated Italy, four-time world champion who, at this moment, misses its third world cup in a row. An unbelievable destiny, but quite deserved, for those who follow Italian football.
No more World Cup for Italy!
Until 2018, Italy missed only two World Cups. That was it, so in 2018, missing to go thru, in front of Sweden, that was a huge shock. Then, again, in 2022, North Macedonia. Team excluded, eventually, by Portugal. Now, Bosnia & Herzegovina. The thing is, every World Cup missed by Italy will be a surprise. Forever! Especially that Italy is the only country without a legacy; heritage (Yugoslavia – Serbia; URSS – Russia; Czechoslovakia – Czech etc.), with more than 10 participations not being able to make it among 47 other participants! A disaster, an upset, but something that won’t impact this World Cup anymore.
Which are the big losers?
Is there, then, any other big name missing? From Europe, the mentioned Serbia, Poland, Denmark, and even Hungary can be considered the biggest absences. Well, the last one still lives from its past, twice world vice champions, as they didn’t qualify for a FIFA World Cup since Iraq played there, in 1986. 40 years! Romania and Bulgaria were, at some point, some interesting nations to participate, but at this moment they stand no chance. Outside Europe, maybe Chile, Nigeria and Cameroun would be teams you would expect to see among the other 40+, but they also didn’t make it. Most likely, all of the above, or mostly will make it in 2030. I am not sure if it is good or bad, but the competition will diminish severely.
I still bet on Norway at this World Cup!
Enough about those who didn’t qualify, let’s talk about those who did. Like Norway, Scotland and Austria… All didn’t make it from 1998 onward, but did it now. It is not by accident me starting with the Scandinavians, as I support them sincerely and really believe they can make a significant performance given their sport ethics, and the high level of their best players, like Odegaard and Haaland. I am invoking 1998, because it has multiple meaning. First, it was the first World Cup with 32 teams. It was also the first World Cup I’ve watched, at 10 years. Last, but not least, Romania, my native country, played its last game at such a tournament, and nothing will change for sure before 2030, but likely the horizon is even wider.
The 1998 generation, back to the “festival”
Austria and Scotland made it back, taking advantage of the 16 teams extension. The point is that both are World Cup classics, with seven and eight tournaments respective, until 1998 inclusive. So no small football nations. In some regards, the extension brings in more value, in some regards. But then you have, as said, Curacao, which is not even an independent territory! And they’ll be facing Germany in the first game. Uzbekistan, Jordan and Cape Verde are the other debutants, and nobody can tell what they can achieve, especially that eight third place positions will qualify from the group stage. And there are 12 groups! In the past, Trinidad & Tobago, Togo, Angola, Iceland, El Salvador or Panama didn’t stand a chance, but now, a lucky win can ensure a knock-out match.
Turkey and New Zealand two other come backs
We were just about to have Kosovo debuting also, as they played on home soil the decisive game against Turkey, but lost. So then the Turks are dreaming again at an event which they only attended twice, but with a surreal semifinal and third final place ranking in 2002. Who can say what the future can look like? Of course, Turkey doesn’t have a team close to the one back then, but Norway, for example, as said, looks better than ever. For many, a top performance will be a huge surprise, but not for me! Another name who regains the participation to a World Cup is New Zealand, after 16 years. The point of mentioning the Kiwis is that in 2010 they didn’t make it thru, but they were the only team not to lose a game in the tournament! Three draws, including one with Italy, the ruling World Champion.
A lot of stories are maybe awaiting to be written. Maybe most of them, if there will be as many as they could, will be diluted by the increasing globalization of football. The one thing we are sure of is that people are awaiting the World Cup in US, Canada and Mexico and they are willing to pay the highest, by far, prices in history. Can hardly wait to see the output myself.
Photo: pixabay.com