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The Digest:

The road to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup is well underway, with 16 nations having already secured their places. The tournament, which will feature a record 48 teams, continues to take shape as continental qualifiers near their conclusion.

Key Points:
  • A total of 16 countries have officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  • The host nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada, have all secured automatic qualification.
  • From the South America zone, six countries have qualified:
    • Argentina
    • Brazil
    • Ecuador
    • Uruguay
    • Colombia
    • Paraguay
  • From Asia and Oceania, seven countries have booked their spots:
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
    • Iran
    • Uzbekistan
    • South Korea
    • Jordan
    • Australia
  • A total of 43 teams will qualify through continental tournaments.
  • Two additional places will be decided in the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026.
With more than a third of the spots for the expanded World Cup already filled, the race for the remaining places is intensifying. As the final qualifying matches approach, more nations will join this list, adding to the anticipation for the record-breaking tournament.

Sources: Daily Post Nigeria

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