Uzbekistan & Jordan qualify for first World Cups - who else is through?
Uzbekistan and Jordan have made history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cups, while South Korea extended their impressive streak with an 11th consecutive tournament appearance. These teams become the latest to secure spots at the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.
Historic Qualifications
The road to qualification saw:
- Uzbekistan securing their place with a 0-0 draw against UAE
- South Korea defeating Iraq 2-0
- Jordan's 3-0 victory over Oman confirming their historic qualification
Uzbekistan's Football Journey
Ranked 57th globally, Uzbekistan's football history includes:
- First match as sovereign nation in June 1992
- FIFA membership granted in 1994
- Controversial 2006 qualifying campaign against Bahrain
- Consistent Asian Cup performances since 1996
Jordan's World Cup Pursuit
The 62nd-ranked Jordanian team has:
- Participated in seven World Cup qualifying campaigns since 1986
- Previously reached 2014 intercontinental play-off against Uruguay
- Finished as Asian Cup runners-up in recent tournaments
World Cup Qualifying Breakdown
South America
Format: 10-team group with top 6 qualifying directly
Current status: Argentina has already qualified, with Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia in qualifying positions
Asia
Format: Top 2 from three groups qualify automatically
Qualified teams: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan
Next steps: Third and fourth-placed teams advance to additional qualifying rounds
Africa
Format: 9 groups with winners qualifying directly
Current leaders: Egypt, DR Congo, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana
CONCACAF
Format: Three-stage qualifying process
Special circumstances: Host nations USA, Canada and Mexico automatically qualified
Europe
Format: 12 group winners qualify directly
Current status: Qualifying began in March 2024 with no teams yet qualified
Oceania
Format: New Zealand qualified directly as winners
Next steps: New Caledonia advances to intercontinental play-offs
The expanded 2026 World Cup continues to create opportunities for nations to make their mark on football's biggest stage, with qualifying campaigns across all continents reaching crucial stages.
