Nothing less than 16 countries have now secured their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay the latest to qualify after Thursday’s penultimate round of South American qualifiers, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.
Uruguay and Colombia sealed their spots in style with 3-0 victories, while Paraguay booked their ticket following a hard-fought goalless draw. They join Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador as confirmed representatives from South America.
The 2026 tournament, featuring an expanded 48-team format, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, all of which qualify automatically as hosts.
Other nations to have already booked their tickets include Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, and Australia.
In total, 43 teams will qualify directly through continental competitions, while the remaining two spots will be decided in the intercontinental playoffs, scheduled for March 2026, involving six competing nations.