2026 FIFA World Cup Knowledge Graph — Visual Capitalist + The Guardian Meshup
Comprehensive RDF knowledge graph meshing the Visual Capitalist 48-team qualification map with The Guardian complete team-by-team player guide for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
kg-generator skill
AI agent skill that generates comprehensive Knowledge Graphs from web content using schema.org vocabulary and curated prompt templates.
2026 FIFA World Cup Ontology
Lightweight ontology for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Knowledge Graph, defining classes for tournament structure including Groups, Confederations, and team roles.
World Cup Group
A group of four teams in the FIFA World Cup group stage.
Football Confederation
A regional governing body for association football.
World Cup Host
A country hosting the FIFA World Cup tournament.
World Cup Debutant
A country making its first-ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup.
2026 FIFA World Cup
The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States — the first tournament to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format.
Canada (Host Nation)
Mexico (Host Nation)
USA (Host Nation)
Cape Verde (World Cup Debutant)
Curaçao (World Cup Debutant)
Jordan (World Cup Debutant)
Uzbekistan (World Cup Debutant)
Union of European Football Associations
UEFA
Regional football confederation with 16 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Confederation of African Football
CAF
Regional football confederation with 10 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Asian Football Confederation
AFC
Regional football confederation with 9 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South American Football Confederation
CONMEBOL
Regional football confederation with 6 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
CONCACAF
Oceania Football Confederation
OFC
Regional football confederation with 1 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
Group J
Group K
Group L
Czechia
Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada
Qatar
Switzerland
Brazil
Haiti
Morocco
Scotland
Australia
Paraguay
Turkey
USA
Curaçao
Ecuador
Germany
Côte d'Ivoire
Japan
Netherlands
Sweden
Tunisia
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Uruguay
France
Iraq
Norway
Senegal
Algeria
Argentina
Austria
Jordan
Colombia
DR Congo
Portugal
Uzbekistan
Croatia
England
Ghana
Panama
Miroslav Koubek
Head Coach
Javier Aguirre
Hugo Broos
Hong Myung-bo
Sergej Barbarez
Jesse Marsch
Julen Lopetegui
Murat Yakin
Carlo Ancelotti
Sébastien Migné
Mohamed Ouahbi
Steve Clarke
Tony Popovic
Gustavo Alfaro
Vincenzo Montella
Mauricio Pochettino
Dick Advocaat
Sebastián Beccacece
Julian Nagelsmann
Emerse Faé
Hajime Moriyasu
Ronald Koeman
Graham Potter
Sabri Lamouchi
Rudi Garcia
Hossam Hassan
Amir Ghalenoei
Darren Bazeley
Pedro Leitão Brito
Georgios Donis
Luis de la Fuente
Marcelo Bielsa
Didier Deschamps
Graham Arnold
Ståle Solbakken
Pape Thiaw
Vladimir Petkovic
Lionel Scaloni
Ralf Rangnick
Jamal Sellami
Néstor Lorenzo
Sébastien Desabre
Roberto Martínez
Fabio Cannavaro
Zlatko Dalic
Thomas Tuchel
Carlos Queiroz
Thomas Christiansen
Patrik Schick
Star player for Czechia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Raúl Jiménez
Star player for Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Teboho Mokoena
Star player for South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Son Heung-min
Star player for South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Edin Dzeko
Star player for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Alphonso Davies
Star player for Canada at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Akram Afif
Star player for Qatar at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Granit Xhaka
Star player for Switzerland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Vinícius Júnior
Star player for Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Wilson Isidor
Star player for Haiti at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Achraf Hakimi
Star player for Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Scott McTominay
Star player for Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Jackson Irvine
Star player for Australia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Julio Enciso
Star player for Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Arda Guler
Star player for Turkey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Christian Pulisic
Star player for USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Leandro Bacuna
Star player for Curaçao at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Moisés Caicedo
Star player for Ecuador at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Florian Wirtz
Star player for Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nicolas Pépé
Star player for Côte d'Ivoire at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Takefusa Kubo
Star player for Japan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Virgil van Dijk
Star player for Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Alexander Isak
Star player for Sweden at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hannibal Mejbri
Star player for Tunisia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne
Star player for Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mohamed Salah
Star player for Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mehdi Taremi
Star player for Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Chris Wood
Star player for New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Dailon Livramento
Star player for Cape Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Salem Al-Dawsari
Star player for Saudi Arabia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Lamine Yamal
Star player for Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Federico Valverde
Star player for Uruguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé
Star player for France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Aymen Hussein
Star player for Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Erling Haaland
Star player for Norway at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sadio Mané
Star player for Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Riyad Mahrez
Star player for Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Lionel Messi
Star player for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Konrad Laimer
Star player for Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mousa Al-Tamari
Star player for Jordan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Luis Díaz
Star player for Colombia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Yoane Wissa
Star player for DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Star player for Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Abdukodir Khusanov
Star player for Uzbekistan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Luka Modric
Star player for Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Harry Kane
Star player for England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Antoine Semenyo
Star player for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Michael Murillo
Star player for Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Participating Teams
All 48 national teams qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across 12 groups.
Tournament Groups
The 12 groups (A-L) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, each containing 4 teams.
Regional Confederations
The six regional football confederations that govern qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Answer 1
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features a record 48 teams, expanded from the traditional 32-team format that had been in place since 1998.
Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
Answer 2
Canada, Mexico, and the United States are jointly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is the first time the tournament is hosted by three nations. Mexico becomes the first country to host the World Cup three times (1970, 1986, 2026).
Which countries are making their World Cup debut in 2026?
Answer 3
Four countries are making their first-ever World Cup appearance: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Curaçao, with a population of approximately 150,000, is the smallest nation ever to qualify.
Which past champion failed to qualify for 2026?
Answer 4
Italy, a four-time World Cup champion (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), failed to qualify for the third consecutive tournament, also having missed 2018 and 2022.
What is the tournament format with 48 teams?
Answer 5
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each (Groups A through L). The top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to a new round of 32 knockout stage.
How many slots does each confederation get?
Answer 6
UEFA (Europe): 16 slots, CAF (Africa): 9+1 playoff slot, AFC (Asia): 8+1 playoff slot, CONMEBOL (South America): 6 slots, CONCACAF (North/Central America): 3+3 host slots, OFC (Oceania): 1 slot.
Which team has won the most World Cup titles?
Answer 7
Brazil leads all nations with five World Cup titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). They are followed by Germany and Italy with four titles each, and Argentina with three.
Who are the defending champions?
Answer 8
Argentina are the defending champions, having defeated France in the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Lionel Messi captains the team in what he has indicated will likely be his final World Cup appearance.
Which teams are considered favorites for 2026?
Answer 9
According to The Guardian's analysis, France (FIFA rank No. 1), Spain (No. 2), Argentina (No. 3), England (No. 4), Portugal (No. 5), and Brazil (No. 6) are among the tournament favorites.
How many players are participating in the tournament?
Answer 10
According to The Guardian's complete player guide, the tournament features all 1,248 players across the 48 squads (26 players per team).
Which countries are returning after long absences?
Answer 11
Haiti is making its first World Cup appearance since 1974, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (previously Zaire in 1974) is also returning after a long absence. Turkey returns after a 22-year wait since their third-place finish in 2002.
Where will the matches be played?
Answer 12
Matches will be played across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The opening match and the final will be held in the United States.
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the international governing body of association football.
Confederation
A regional governing body under FIFA that organizes football within a geographic area. There are six confederations: UEFA, CAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and OFC.
Group Stage
The first round of the World Cup where 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of 4. Each team plays the other three in its group once. Top two from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance.
Knockout Stage
The elimination phase of the tournament featuring 32 teams in a single-elimination bracket format, from the Round of 32 through to the Final.
Host
A country that stages World Cup matches. The 2026 tournament features three hosts: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Debutant
A national team making its first-ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 tournament features four debutants: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
Playoff
Additional qualification matches between teams from different confederations competing for the final World Cup slots. Iraq and DR Congo qualified through intercontinental playoffs.
Squad
The group of players selected by each national team for the tournament. Each World Cup 2026 squad consists of 26 players.
Star Player
A team's most influential or recognized player, typically identified by skill, leadership, and impact on the team's performance.
Bracket
The tournament tree structure that maps how teams advance through the knockout rounds from the Round of 32 to the Final.
2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary
How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup
A step-by-step guide to understanding and following the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament structure.
Understand the Tournament Format
The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams across 12 groups. The top two from each group plus eight best third-placed teams advance to a 32-team knockout bracket.
Learn the Groups and Teams
Familiarize yourself with all 12 groups (A-L) and the 4 teams in each. Key groups include Group C (Brazil, Morocco), Group I (France, Norway, Senegal), and Group L (England, Croatia).
Identify the Star Players
Track the tournament's biggest stars: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappé (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Erling Haaland (Norway), Vinícius Júnior (Brazil), Lamine Yamal (Spain), and Mohamed Salah (Egypt).
Follow the Group Stage Matches
Group stage runs from June 11, 2026. Watch how debutants Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan perform on the world stage for the first time.
Track the Knockout Bracket
The knockout stage begins with the Round of 32. Follow the bracket as teams advance through to the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Final on July 19, 2026.
Watch for Historical Moments
Key storylines: Can Argentina defend their title? Will Messi win a second World Cup in his final tournament? Can France's Kylian Mbappé lead the No. 1 ranked team to glory? Will Erling Haaland shine in his World Cup debut?
Explore the Knowledge Graph
Use the SPARQL query button at the bottom of this page to explore team compositions, group structures, player connections, and confederation statistics through the linked data knowledge graph.
Argentina captain and forward, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. 2026 will likely be his final World Cup appearance.
Portugal captain and forward, the all-time leading scorer in men's international football. 2026 marks his final World Cup appearance.
France forward, winner of the 2018 World Cup and Golden Boot winner at the 2022 tournament.
Norway striker, one of the world's most prolific goalscorers making his World Cup debut in 2026.
Brazil forward, the creative focal point of Brazil's attack under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Spain's teenage sensation, injecting freshness into a team that already dominates possession under Luis de la Fuente.
Egypt captain and forward, one of Africa's greatest ever players leading the Pharaohs.
England captain and striker, the team's all-time leading goalscorer leading the Three Lions under Thomas Tuchel.
Belgium midfielder, the creative engine of the Red Devils' attack.
Croatia captain and midfielder, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner leading his team in his final World Cup.
Mapped: The 48 Nations Playing in FIFA World Cup 2026
Gabriel Cohen
Visual Capitalist
World Cup 2026: guide to all 1,248 players
Marcus Christenson
The Guardian
All-Time World Cup Champions
The eight nations that have won the FIFA World Cup since the tournament began in 1930.
Brazil has won 5 World Cup title(s): 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002.
World Cup Champion
Germany has won 4 World Cup title(s): 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014.
Italy
Italy has won 4 World Cup title(s): 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006.
Argentina has won 3 World Cup title(s): 1978, 1986, 2022.
France has won 2 World Cup title(s): 1998, 2018.
Uruguay has won 2 World Cup title(s): 1930, 1950.
England has won 1 World Cup title(s): 1966.
Spain has won 1 World Cup title(s): 2010.