2026 World Cup: The 4 national teams set for their tournament debut | OneFootball

The 4 teams making their first-ever World Cup appearance in 2026

2026 World Cup/@France24

We now know 42 of the 48 nations that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. By expanding the tournament field, FIFA has opened the door for new teams to experience the world’s biggest football stage. Here are the four national teams set to play in the final phase for the very first time in their history.

Curaçao

Curaçao is the true sensation of the CONCACAF qualifiers. With a population of just 150,000, this small country, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, will be the least populous nation at the upcoming World Cup. Curaçao held Jamaica to a draw (0-0) to remain atop Group B.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan punched its ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals for the first time in history after a goalless draw (0-0) against the United Arab Emirates last June, during the third round of Asian qualifiers.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde, the team that stunned Cameroon, will be Africa’s rookie in the tournament. The Blue Sharks delivered a stellar campaign in Group D, sending the Indomitable Lions into the play-offs before ultimately eliminating them.

Jordan

On June 5, 2025, Jordan clinched its historic first-ever World Cup berth with a 3-0 away victory over Oman.

There could be even more debutants after the European and intercontinental play-offs, with Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Suriname, and New Caledonia still in contention.