Track Tickets
As another dramatic international break comes to a close, the road to North America has started to take shape. Across continents, teams have begun to book their tickets to the World Cup in the summer of 2026, with 28 of 48 confirmed. Here's a rundown of every team to do so during the October international break.
Europe
Having won all six of their games without conceding a goal, England are worthy winners of Group K and have deservedly booked their spot at next summer's World Cup. Thomas Tuchel's side rounded off an accomplished-looking qualifying campaign with a convincing 5-0 win over Latvia.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 26th minute before Harry Kane extended his lead as England's all-time top goalscorer with a brace on the stroke of half-time. An own goal from Latvia's Maksims Tonisevs midway through the second half put the game beyond any doubt, before Arsenal's Eberechi Eze rounded off the scoring as the game drew to a close. Following victory in Riga, the Three Lions become the first European team to qualify for the World Cup, which gives Thomas Tuchel ample time to fine-tune his England side before the tournament kicks off next summer.
Portugal came close to following in England's footsteps after a Cristiano Ronaldo brace put them 2-1 up against Hungary in Group F. However, a 91st-minute equaliser from Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scuppered Portugal's celebrations and resigned them to a point. Manager Roberto Martinez will now have to wait till the November international break to make their World Cup qualification official.
Africa
It was an eventful week of qualifying in Africa, with plenty of Premier League talent on display, as six nations booked their spots at next summer's World Cup. Egypt were first to qualify after a Mohamed Salah brace inspired the Pharaohs to a 3-0 victory over Djibouti in Group A. Ghana followed soon after with Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus' strike enough to defeat Comoros in Group K.
Cape Verde have emerged as the surprise package of this qualifying campaign. A convincing 3-0 victory over Eswatini sealed a historic first-ever World Cup appearance. Meanwhile, the Ivory Coast and Senegal both booked their spots at the World Cup in the summer after convincing victories over Kenya and Mauritania respectively.
Finally, South Africa confirmed their World Cup spot following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Rwanda, meaning Bafana Bafana will take part in their first World Cup since hosting the torunament in 2010. It marks a long-awaited comeback for Bafana Bafana, ending a 16-year absence from football's biggest stage.
Asia
In the Asian World Cup qualifiers, two more nations confirmed their spots at next summer's tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Saudi Arabia picked up a hard-fought point in a 0-0 draw with Iraq to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Qatar then followed suit, winning 2-1 against the United Arab Emirates to confirm their return to the world stage after hosting the tournament in 2022.
As of mid-October, 28 out of 48 nations have officially qualified for the World Cup in 2026. Here's a full breakdown by confederation:
| Confederation | Qualified Nations | Total Spots |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts | Canada, Mexico, United States | 3 (automatic) |
| Asia (AFC) | Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan | 8 |
| Africa (CAF) | Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia | 9 |
| Europe (UEFA) | England | 16 |
| Oceania (OFC) | New Zealand | 1 |
| South America (CONMEBOL) | Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay | 6 |
The next set of World Cup qualifiers takes place in mid-November, and with 20 spots still up for grabs, it' sure to deliver another round of high-stakes drama, heartbreak, and celebration as the remaining nations fight to join the growing list bound for North America. Click here to find out how to book your World Cup 2026 tickets!
