NFL
By Keith Richards
48 teams. 12 groups. However, there can only be one champion. Without a doubt, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a spectacle the likes of which we’ve never seen. Since 1998, the field has had 32 teams. For the first time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will include 48 teams. In less than a month, those 48 teams will be spread out over three host nations. All will be vying for football supremacy on behalf of their nations.
Much of football has been unpredictable in the past 12 months. If that is any indication of what we can expect from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we are in for a wild ride for a few weeks. With so many teams, there are several groups of interest. First, we will give a reminder of all the teams that have qualified. Then, I will give three things I’m looking out for as we draw closer to the tournament. So, let’s get it!
The Teams
Now that the qualifiers are complete, we know all 48 teams competing. Those teams and groups are below:
- Group A – Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia
- Group B – Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
- Group C – Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- Group D – United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
- Group E – Germany, Curaçao, Côte D’Ivoire, Ecuador
- Group F – Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
- Group G – Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
- Group H – Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
- Group I – France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
- Group J – Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
- Group K – Portugal, Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Colombia
- Group L – England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Of those 48 teams, you will find your traditional powerhouses. France, Argentina, Belgium, England, Germany, and Brazil all expect to make strong showings. One team you will not find is Italy. The four-time World Cup champions failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s the third straight time the Italians have not qualified for the tournament. Before then, the only other time Italy did not qualify was in 1958.
While Italy will miss its fourth World Cup, four nations will participate in their very first. Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will all be debutants in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With 16 teams being added to the field, it’s no surprise that there are more debutants. We were very close to there being more. A few teams barely missed making their debuts.
However, there’s no doubt we’ll see more debutants in this expanded format in the future. Now that we know the field, let’s discuss the stories. Heading into this year’s World Cup, there are several storylines to follow. Have I mentioned there are 48 teams this year? The three storylines I’ve landed on are: The sheer size of the tournament, possible ending legacies, and the world’s climate heading into the tournament.
The Qualitative Biggest World Cup Ever
Just in case you didn’t know by now, there are 48 teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s a significant development in this year’s edition. In the first edition of the World Cup in 1930, there were 13 teams. Then, the tournament hosted 16 teams, except for 1938 (15), 1942 and 1946 (no tournament), and 1950 (13). In 1982, FIFA increased the number to 24, an increase of only 8. Finally, in 1998, FIFA increased the number once more to 32, an increase of 8 again. Going from 32 teams to 48 is an increase of 16 teams. Why is there such a large increase?
Well, there are many theories, but there is one that comes to mind for most: The Infamous “FIFA Cash Grab.” Just a year ago, the Club World Cup took place here in North America as well. While the tournament was a success, it was not without controversy. The Seattle Sounders, in a match against Minnesota shortly before the Club World Cup, came onto the pitch wearing t-shirts that said “Club World Ca$h Grab” on the front and “Fair Share Now” on the back.
The implication is self-explanatory. However, it does pose a fair question. Is this just another FIFA Cash Grab? Even without cash-grab implications, fixture congestion has also been a concern. Leagues in the European football schedule will have just a short turnaround from the end of their seasons to the World Cup. Leagues like the MLS have had to jam matches into the beginning of their seasons, which isn’t great either. Yes, it is a dangerous game. One has to wonder if the gamble will be worth it in the end.
Possible Ending Legacies
More than likely, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the last for a few of a generation. We cannot expect players like Lionel Messi (38), Cristiano Ronaldo (41), Neymar (34), and Luka Modric (40). While Neymar is not terribly old, Brazil is a highly competitive football nation. It’s not even a given that he will make this year’s World Cup.
For that matter, for the 2030 World Cup, Harry Kane will be 36 by then. While we can likely expect Kane to make that edition, it’s far from a guarantee. Will this be the year Ronaldo reinserts himself into the GOAT conversation by grabbing the one brass ring that’s been out of his reach? Can Neymar expand his status in the world of football by leading Brazil to his first title and their sixth? We shall see.
The World Political Climate
It’s not fun mixing sports and politics, but it’s sometimes unavoidable. To say the current political climate of the world is complicated would be an egregious understatement. Very few countries get along with the United States. In fact, heading into the 2026 World Cup, the United States is at open war with Iran, a team participating in the tournament. While Iran currently plans to participate, we’ve still got a month to go.
Not so much a political issue, Senegal possibly facing Morocco is intriguing. The African nations are in a well-publicized regarding the 2025 AFCON Final. Senegal initially won the final but were then stripped of the title months later. As far as I know, Senegal is still refusing to hand the trophy over to Morocco.
However, the real issue is the United States. The President of the United States and his administration have threatened numerous absurd measures regarding teams and their fans. From the threats of obscene surcharges to enter the country to ICE agents being at stadiums, the uncertainty is palpable. Maybe we will be lucky, and nothing will happen. However, I’m not betting a significant sum of money on that. I will fear the worst and hope for the best.
Despite it all, the excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to build. Team NBS will be here every step of the way! Stay tuned as we begin to preview the 12 groups of the tournament!
