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The lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now complete, as the final roster of 48 teams was solidified following a series of intense qualifying matches this week.
In a thrilling conclusion to the qualifiers, Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Türkiye, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), and Sweden clinched the last remaining spots through nail-biting last-chance play-offs, joining 42 other nations already set to compete.
In a significant achievement, former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold guided Iraq to their first World Cup berth in four decades, sparking jubilant celebrations among fans across Australia.
Iraq’s historic qualification was sealed with a 2-1 victory over Bolivia in a match held in Mexico on Wednesday, a nostalgic nod to their previous World Cup appearance in Mexico back in 1986.
Experts and commentators have lauded this victory as the most significant milestone in Iraqi sports over the past 40 years.
Arnold is the first Australian coach to work at two men’s World Cups — he took Australia to the Round of 16 against eventual winners Argentina at Qatar 2022 — and the first to work with another nation.
Elsewhere, the final play-offs today have revealed the Socceroos’ first match will be against 25th-ranked Türkiye, in their Group D opening match in Vancouver on 14 June.
It’s Türkiye’s first time qualifying for the World Cup since 2002, when they placed third, and the team’s third World Cup appearance since 1954.
They join Paraguay and the United States in Group D with the Socceroos.
Kosovo’s 1-0 loss to Türkiye meant they fell short of a historic debut at a major tournament, having joined FIFA and UEFA fewer than 10 years ago.
Four-time World Cup champion Italy failed to qualify for their third consecutive tournament after going down 4-1 on penalties after their match against Bosnia-Herzegovina was tied 1-1 after extra time.
In the intercontinental playoffs, held in Mexico, DR Congo beat Jamaica 1-0 to take their place at the World Cup, before Iraq beat Bolivia.
Sweden qualified for the 48-team tournament after beating Poland 3-2, and Czechia beat Denmark 3-1 on penalties after their match was tied 2-2 after extra time.
Every team that’s playing in the 2026 World Cup
The tournament, to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico, will run from 11 June to 19 July.
GROUP A
Group A matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from 11 to 24 June.
Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Czechia
GROUP B
Group B will play from 12 to 24 June.
Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar
Switzerland
GROUP C
Group C will play from 13 to 24 June.
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
GROUP D
Group D matches will be between 12 and 25 June.
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Türkiye
GROUP E
Group E will play from 14 to 25 June.
Germany
Curaçao
Ivory Coast
Ecuador
GROUP F
Group E will also compete from 14 to 25 June.
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden
Tunisia
GROUP G
Group G matches will be held between 15 and 26 June.
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
GROUP H
Group H will also play from between 15 and 26 June.
Spain
Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
GROUP I
Group I matches will take place from 16 to 26 June.
France
Senegal
Iraq
Norway
GROUP J
Group J will compete from 16 to 27 June.
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
GROUP K
Group K will play from 17 to 27 June.
Portugal
DR Congo
Uzbekistan
Colombia
GROUP L
Group L matches will also take place from 17 to 27 June.
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama
Teams that make it out of their groups enter the knockout stages — the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The final will be held in New York on 19 July.