Japan and Iran book tickets to game-changing FIFA World Cup 26™
Japan and Iran have booked their place at the FIFA World Cup 26™ through confederation qualifying. Japan sealed their spot with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain while Iran qualified following a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan.
"Omedetou [congratulations], Japan, for being the first country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 26 in addition to the host countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States of America," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
"You deserve this qualification. We all remember the emotions of the last World Cup in Qatar, the emotions that you gave to the entire world in a thrilling qualifying stage, passing the group stage. And we all remember you, as well, as a brilliant co-host of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. See you in North America in 2026."
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After a nine-month break, the African qualifiers resumed yesterday. However, no CAF representatives at the global extravaganza will be confirmed until June. Also in June, the Concacaf teams will return to the fray with everything still to play for in the region.
This month's international window is made all the more special by the fact that UEFA is kicking off its qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26. The first round, which begins tomorrow, will follow a familiar format: there are 12 groups of four or five teams, with the group winners progressing directly to the 2026 showpiece.
By the time the final draw is held in North America towards the end of this year, we will know 42 of the 48 participants in this landmark edition of the FIFA World Cup, with play-offs to determine the final half-dozen.
The play-off tournament will include teams from five of the six confederations: one each from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and the OFC and two from Concacaf. There are two World Cup places up for grabs in that tournament. In addition, UEFA will hold separate play-offs, in which 16 teams will battle it out for the four remaining European spots.
As the race to reach the FIFA World Cup 26 continues, the anticipation is continually mounting ahead of the world's greatest sporting spectacle.