Remaining Underdogs Eye World Cup Opportunity
Hey there! Let's take a journey around the world and check out the underdogs who are still in contention for the World Cup. From the Caribbean island of Curacao to the South Pacific nation of New Caledonia, these teams hold hopes of making their World Cup debut.
Curacao's Dutch coaching legend, Dick Advocaat, is determined to lead his team onto the big stage. With Indonesia, football-crazy Indonesia, and possibly Venezuela, New Caledonia, and San Marino, a total of six nations dream of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup appearance. The 2026 tournament, featuring 48 teams instead of 32, presents an exciting opportunity for these contenders.
Around the Globe
Europe (12 Direct Spots + 4x Europe Play-off)
Three more spots than before go to Europe. The format is straightforward: the 12 group winners qualify directly for the final round. The 12 group runners-up join the four best Nations League group winners in a playoff.
United States and Canada (6 Direct Places + 2x Intercontinental Playoffs)
In addition to the three hosts, USA, Mexico, and Canada, the Concacaf federation will send three more teams to the 2026 World Cup. The remaining 12 teams will face off in groups to determine the qualifiers for the tournament. The group winners qualify directly, and the two best runners-up have another chance in the intercontinental playoffs.
Asia, Africa, and South America (Total 24 Spots)
The exact qualification process varies by continent. Asia will send four more teams compared to the previous tournament, giving debutants a great chance. Africa aims to send at least nine teams, compared to five previously. South America sends six teams directly to the tournament, with the seventh-placed team playing in the playoffs.
Oceania (1 Direct Place + 1x Intercontinental Playoff)
The Oceanian federation has secured a guaranteed starting place for the first time. New Zealand has already clinched the qualifying victory and will not need to play in a playoff. New Caledonia, the French overseas territory, will have a chance to compete in the intercontinental playoffs in March.
The Race Begins
Europe
- Germany (Group A)
- Switzerland (Group B)
- Denmark (Group C)
- France (Group D)
- Spain (Group E)
- Portugal (Group F)
- Netherlands (Group G)
- Austria (Group H)
- Italy (Group I)
- Belgium (Group J)
- England (Group K)
- Croatia (Group L)
Africa
- Egypt (Group A)
- Senegal (Group B)
- South Africa (Group C)
- Cape Verde (Group D)
- Morocco (Group E)
- Cameroon (Group F)
- Algeria (Group G)
- Tunisia (Group H)
- Ghana (Group I)
Asia
- South Korea
- Japan
- Iran
- Australia
- Uzbekistan
- Jordan
South America
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Uruguay
- Paraguay
- Colombia
- Ecuador
Venezuela is currently 7th in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings with 15 points from 16 games. Meanwhile, Indonesia and San Marino are from different confederations and typically don't compete in the final stages of the World Cup qualification process.
Follow the journey of these persevering teams as they fight for a chance to join the world’s best footballers on the global stage. Good luck to all the outsiders!
In the spirit of global sports competition, let's explore the journey of the underdogs vying for the World Cup, from Curacao to New Caledonia. Despite their ongoing efforts in vocational training and football, Curacao, New Caledonia, and other contenders like Indonesia and Venezuela, face challenges in qualifying for the World Cup, especially in the wake of the increased number of teams participating in the 2026 tournament. However, their determination to demonstrate their skills and represent their communities shines through, making their pursuit of the World Cup both inspiring and exciting.
