Complete! List of 48 World Cup 2026 Contestants, DR Congo Makes History

The Iraqi national team completed the list of 48 contestants for the 2026 World Cup in dramatic fashion. The squad nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia secured their ticket to the quadrennial tournament by eliminating Bolivia 2-1 in the inter-confederation playoff final at Monterrey Stadium, Canada.

This victory made Iraq the last team to fill the final slot among 48 participating nations, under the new expanded format of the global competition.

Iraq returns to the World Cup after a 40-year absence since their last appearance in 1986.

Before Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina had secured the World Cup ticket for 2026. The European team qualified surprisingly.

Bosnia dashed Italy's hopes through a 4-1 penalty shootout victory after a 1-1 draw in the Path A final of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers for the European Zone.

This success marks Bosnia's second World Cup appearance after last participating in the 2014 edition.

Meanwhile, new history was made in Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed their World Cup debut after defeating Jamaica 1-0 in the inter-confederation playoff final in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Previously, they had played in the 1974 World Cup, but the African nation was then known as Zaire.

With this result, the 48-team lineup for the 2026 World Cup is officially complete, featuring a combination of traditional powerhouses and new faces from various confederations.

The tournament to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico promises a broader, more diverse competitive landscape full of potential surprises, with Iraq closing the long list of contestants.

List of 48 Participating Nations for the 2026 World Cup
1. Mexico
2. United States
3. Canada
4. Brazil
5. Germany
6. Netherlands
7. Belgium
8. Spain
9. France
10. Argentina
11. Portugal
12. England
13. South Africa
14. Bosnia and Herzegovina
15. Morocco
16. Paraguay
17. Curacao
18. Japan
19. Egypt
20. Cape Verde
21. Senegal
22. Algeria
23. Democratic Republic of Congo
24. Croatia
25. South Korea
26. Qatar
27. Haiti
28. Australia
29. Ivory Coast
30. Sweden
31. Iran
32. Saudi Arabia
33. Iraq
34. Austria
35. Uzbekistan
36. Ghana
37. Czech Republic
38. Switzerland
39. Scotland
40. Turkey
41. Ecuador
42. Tunisia
43. New Zealand
44. Uruguay
45. Norway
46. Jordan
47. Colombia
48. Panama