2026 FIFA World Cup Knowledge Graph — Visual Capitalist + The Guardian Meshup
type: CreativeWork
description: 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.
date created: 2026-06-09T00:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-06-09T00:00:00Z
about: 2026 FIFA World Cup
has part: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions
has part: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary
has part: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup
has part: Participating Teams
has part: Tournament Groups
has part: Regional Confederations
has part: 2026 FIFA World Cup Ontology
author: this
citation: every-country-playing-in-the-2026-world-cup
citation: world-cup-2026-complete-player-guide
was generated by: kg-generator skill

kg-generator skill
type: SoftwareApplication
description: AI agent skill that generates comprehensive Knowledge Graphs from web content using schema.org vocabulary and curated prompt templates.

2026 FIFA World Cup Ontology
type: Ontology
description: Lightweight ontology for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Knowledge Graph, defining classes for tournament structure including Groups, Confederations, and team roles.

World Cup Group
type: Class
comment: A group of four teams in the FIFA World Cup group stage.

Football Confederation
type: Class
comment: A regional governing body for association football.

World Cup Host
type: Class
comment: A country hosting the FIFA World Cup tournament.

World Cup Debutant
type: Class
comment: A country making its first-ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup.

2026 FIFA World Cup
type: SportsEvent
description: 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.
start date: 2026-06-11
end date: 2026-07-19
location: canada
location: mexico
location: usa
organizer: FIFA
maximum attendee capacity: 48
sport: Association football

Canada (Host Nation)
type: World Cup Host
country: Canada

Mexico (Host Nation)
type: World Cup Host
country: Mexico

USA (Host Nation)
type: World Cup Host
country: United States

Cape Verde (World Cup Debutant)
type: World Cup Debutant
country: Cape Verde

Curaçao (World Cup Debutant)
type: World Cup Debutant
country: Curaçao

Jordan (World Cup Debutant)
type: World Cup Debutant
country: Jordan

Uzbekistan (World Cup Debutant)
type: World Cup Debutant
country: Uzbekistan

Union of European Football Associations
type: Football Confederation
type: Organization
alternate name: UEFA
description: Regional football confederation with 16 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Confederation of African Football
type: Football Confederation
type: Organization
alternate name: CAF
description: Regional football confederation with 10 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Asian Football Confederation
type: Football Confederation
type: Organization
alternate name: AFC
description: Regional football confederation with 9 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

South American Football Confederation
type: Football Confederation
type: Organization
alternate name: CONMEBOL
description: Regional football confederation with 6 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
type: Football Confederation
type: Organization
alternate name: CONCACAF
description: Regional football confederation with 6 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Oceania Football Confederation
type: Football Confederation
type: Organization
alternate name: OFC
description: Regional football confederation with 1 slots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Group A
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Czechia
item list element: Mexico
item list element: South Africa
item list element: South Korea
number of items: 4

Group B
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Bosnia and Herzegovina
item list element: Canada
item list element: Qatar
item list element: Switzerland
number of items: 4

Group C
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Brazil
item list element: Haiti
item list element: Morocco
item list element: Scotland
number of items: 4

Group D
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Australia
item list element: Paraguay
item list element: Turkey
item list element: USA
number of items: 4

Group E
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Curaçao
item list element: Ecuador
item list element: Germany
item list element: Côte d'Ivoire
number of items: 4

Group F
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Japan
item list element: Netherlands
item list element: Sweden
item list element: Tunisia
number of items: 4

Group G
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Belgium
item list element: Egypt
item list element: Iran
item list element: New Zealand
number of items: 4

Group H
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Cape Verde
item list element: Saudi Arabia
item list element: Spain
item list element: Uruguay
number of items: 4

Group I
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: France
item list element: Iraq
item list element: Norway
item list element: Senegal
number of items: 4

Group J
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Algeria
item list element: Argentina
item list element: Austria
item list element: Jordan
number of items: 4

Group K
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Colombia
item list element: DR Congo
item list element: Portugal
item list element: Uzbekistan
number of items: 4

Group L
type: World Cup Group
type: ItemList
item list element: Croatia
item list element: England
item list element: Ghana
item list element: Panama
number of items: 4

Czechia
type: Country

Mexico
type: Country

South Africa
type: Country

South Korea
type: Country

Bosnia and Herzegovina
type: Country

Canada
type: Country

Qatar
type: Country

Switzerland
type: Country

Brazil
type: Country

Haiti
type: Country

Morocco
type: Country

Scotland
type: Country

Australia
type: Country

Paraguay
type: Country

Turkey
type: Country

USA
type: Country

Curaçao
type: Country

Ecuador
type: Country

Germany
type: Country

Côte d'Ivoire
type: Country

Japan
type: Country

Netherlands
type: Country

Sweden
type: Country

Tunisia
type: Country

Belgium
type: Country

Egypt
type: Country

Iran
type: Country

New Zealand
type: Country

Cape Verde
type: Country

Saudi Arabia
type: Country

Spain
type: Country

Uruguay
type: Country

France
type: Country

Iraq
type: Country

Norway
type: Country

Senegal
type: Country

Algeria
type: Country

Argentina
type: Country

Austria
type: Country

Jordan
type: Country

Colombia
type: Country

DR Congo
type: Country

Portugal
type: Country

Uzbekistan
type: Country

Croatia
type: Country

England
type: Country

Ghana
type: Country

Panama
type: Country

Czechia
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Miroslav Koubek
athlete: Patrik Schick
location: Czechia
ranking: 41
additional type: Group A

Mexico
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
coach: Javier Aguirre
athlete: Raúl Jiménez
location: Mexico
ranking: 15
additional type: Group A

South Africa
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Hugo Broos
athlete: Teboho Mokoena
location: South Africa
ranking: 60
additional type: Group A

South Korea
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Hong Myung-bo
athlete: Son Heung-min
location: South Korea
ranking: 25
additional type: Group A

Bosnia and Herzegovina
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Sergej Barbarez
athlete: Edin Dzeko
location: Bosnia and Herzegovina
ranking: 64
additional type: Group B

Canada
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
coach: Jesse Marsch
athlete: Alphonso Davies
location: Canada
ranking: 30
additional type: Group B

Qatar
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Julen Lopetegui
athlete: Akram Afif
location: Qatar
ranking: 55
additional type: Group B

Switzerland
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Murat Yakin
athlete: Granit Xhaka
location: Switzerland
ranking: 19
additional type: Group B

Brazil
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: South American Football Confederation
coach: Carlo Ancelotti
athlete: Vinícius Júnior
location: Brazil
ranking: 6
additional type: Group C

Haiti
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
coach: Sébastien Migné
athlete: Wilson Isidor
location: Haiti
ranking: 82
additional type: Group C

Morocco
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Mohamed Ouahbi
athlete: Achraf Hakimi
location: Morocco
ranking: 7
additional type: Group C

Scotland
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Steve Clarke
athlete: Scott McTominay
location: Scotland
ranking: 43
additional type: Group C

Australia
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Tony Popovic
athlete: Jackson Irvine
location: Australia
ranking: 27
additional type: Group D

Paraguay
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: South American Football Confederation
coach: Gustavo Alfaro
athlete: Julio Enciso
location: Paraguay
ranking: 40
additional type: Group D

Turkey
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Vincenzo Montella
athlete: Arda Guler
location: Turkey
ranking: 22
additional type: Group D

USA
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
coach: Mauricio Pochettino
athlete: Christian Pulisic
location: USA
ranking: 16
additional type: Group D

Curaçao
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
coach: Dick Advocaat
athlete: Leandro Bacuna
location: Curaçao
ranking: 83
additional type: Group E

Ecuador
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: South American Football Confederation
coach: Sebastián Beccacece
athlete: Moisés Caicedo
location: Ecuador
ranking: 24
additional type: Group E

Germany
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Julian Nagelsmann
athlete: Florian Wirtz
location: Germany
ranking: 10
additional type: Group E

Côte d'Ivoire
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Emerse Faé
athlete: Nicolas Pépé
location: Côte d'Ivoire
ranking: 34
additional type: Group E

Japan
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Hajime Moriyasu
athlete: Takefusa Kubo
location: Japan
ranking: 18
additional type: Group F

Netherlands
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Ronald Koeman
athlete: Virgil van Dijk
location: Netherlands
ranking: 8
additional type: Group F

Sweden
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Graham Potter
athlete: Alexander Isak
location: Sweden
ranking: 38
additional type: Group F

Tunisia
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Sabri Lamouchi
athlete: Hannibal Mejbri
location: Tunisia
ranking: 46
additional type: Group F

Belgium
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Rudi Garcia
athlete: Kevin De Bruyne
location: Belgium
ranking: 9
additional type: Group G

Egypt
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Hossam Hassan
athlete: Mohamed Salah
location: Egypt
ranking: 29
additional type: Group G

Iran
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Amir Ghalenoei
athlete: Mehdi Taremi
location: Iran
ranking: 21
additional type: Group G

New Zealand
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Oceania Football Confederation
coach: Darren Bazeley
athlete: Chris Wood
location: New Zealand
ranking: 85
additional type: Group G

Cape Verde
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Pedro Leitão Brito
athlete: Dailon Livramento
location: Cape Verde
ranking: 68
additional type: Group H

Saudi Arabia
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Georgios Donis
athlete: Salem Al-Dawsari
location: Saudi Arabia
ranking: 61
additional type: Group H

Spain
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Luis de la Fuente
athlete: Lamine Yamal
location: Spain
ranking: 2
additional type: Group H

Uruguay
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: South American Football Confederation
coach: Marcelo Bielsa
athlete: Federico Valverde
location: Uruguay
ranking: 17
additional type: Group H

France
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Didier Deschamps
athlete: Kylian Mbappé
location: France
ranking: 1
additional type: Group I

Iraq
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Graham Arnold
athlete: Aymen Hussein
location: Iraq
ranking: 57
additional type: Group I

Norway
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Ståle Solbakken
athlete: Erling Haaland
location: Norway
ranking: 31
additional type: Group I

Senegal
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Pape Thiaw
athlete: Sadio Mané
location: Senegal
ranking: 14
additional type: Group I

Algeria
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Vladimir Petkovic
athlete: Riyad Mahrez
location: Algeria
ranking: 28
additional type: Group J

Argentina
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: South American Football Confederation
coach: Lionel Scaloni
athlete: Lionel Messi
location: Argentina
ranking: 3
additional type: Group J

Austria
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Ralf Rangnick
athlete: Konrad Laimer
location: Austria
ranking: 23
additional type: Group J

Jordan
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Jamal Sellami
athlete: Mousa Al-Tamari
location: Jordan
ranking: 63
additional type: Group J

Colombia
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: South American Football Confederation
coach: Néstor Lorenzo
athlete: Luis Díaz
location: Colombia
ranking: 13
additional type: Group K

DR Congo
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Sébastien Desabre
athlete: Yoane Wissa
location: DR Congo
ranking: 45
additional type: Group K

Portugal
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Roberto Martínez
athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo
location: Portugal
ranking: 5
additional type: Group K

Uzbekistan
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Asian Football Confederation
coach: Fabio Cannavaro
athlete: Abdukodir Khusanov
location: Uzbekistan
ranking: 50
additional type: Group K

Croatia
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Zlatko Dalic
athlete: Luka Modric
location: Croatia
ranking: 11
additional type: Group L

England
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Union of European Football Associations
coach: Thomas Tuchel
athlete: Harry Kane
location: England
ranking: 4
additional type: Group L

Ghana
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of African Football
coach: Carlos Queiroz
athlete: Antoine Semenyo
location: Ghana
ranking: 73
additional type: Group L

Panama
type: SportsTeam
sport: Association football
member of: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
coach: Thomas Christiansen
athlete: Michael Murillo
location: Panama
ranking: 33
additional type: Group L

Miroslav Koubek
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Czechia

Javier Aguirre
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Mexico

Hugo Broos
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: South Africa

Hong Myung-bo
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: South Korea

Sergej Barbarez
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jesse Marsch
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Canada

Julen Lopetegui
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Qatar

Murat Yakin
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Switzerland

Carlo Ancelotti
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Brazil

Sébastien Migné
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Haiti

Mohamed Ouahbi
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Morocco

Steve Clarke
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Scotland

Tony Popovic
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Australia

Gustavo Alfaro
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Paraguay

Vincenzo Montella
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Turkey

Mauricio Pochettino
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: USA

Dick Advocaat
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Curaçao

Sebastián Beccacece
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Ecuador

Julian Nagelsmann
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Germany

Emerse Faé
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Côte d'Ivoire

Hajime Moriyasu
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Japan

Ronald Koeman
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Netherlands

Graham Potter
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Sweden

Sabri Lamouchi
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Tunisia

Rudi Garcia
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Belgium

Hossam Hassan
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Egypt

Amir Ghalenoei
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Iran

Darren Bazeley
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: New Zealand

Pedro Leitão Brito
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Cape Verde

Georgios Donis
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Saudi Arabia

Luis de la Fuente
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Spain

Marcelo Bielsa
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Uruguay

Didier Deschamps
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: France

Graham Arnold
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Iraq

Ståle Solbakken
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Norway

Pape Thiaw
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Senegal

Vladimir Petkovic
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Algeria

Lionel Scaloni
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Argentina

Ralf Rangnick
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Austria

Jamal Sellami
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Jordan

Néstor Lorenzo
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Colombia

Sébastien Desabre
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: DR Congo

Roberto Martínez
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Portugal

Fabio Cannavaro
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Uzbekistan

Zlatko Dalic
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Croatia

Thomas Tuchel
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: England

Carlos Queiroz
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Ghana

Thomas Christiansen
type: Person
job title: Head Coach
works for: Panama

Patrik Schick
type: Person
member of: Czechia
description: Star player for Czechia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Raúl Jiménez
type: Person
member of: Mexico
description: Star player for Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Teboho Mokoena
type: Person
member of: South Africa
description: Star player for South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Son Heung-min
type: Person
member of: South Korea
description: Star player for South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Edin Dzeko
type: Person
member of: Bosnia and Herzegovina
description: Star player for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Alphonso Davies
type: Person
member of: Canada
description: Star player for Canada at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Akram Afif
type: Person
member of: Qatar
description: Star player for Qatar at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Granit Xhaka
type: Person
member of: Switzerland
description: Star player for Switzerland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Vinícius Júnior
type: Person
member of: Brazil
description: Star player for Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Brazil forward, the creative focal point of Brazil's attack under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Wilson Isidor
type: Person
member of: Haiti
description: Star player for Haiti at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Achraf Hakimi
type: Person
member of: Morocco
description: Star player for Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Scott McTominay
type: Person
member of: Scotland
description: Star player for Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Jackson Irvine
type: Person
member of: Australia
description: Star player for Australia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Julio Enciso
type: Person
member of: Paraguay
description: Star player for Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Arda Guler
type: Person
member of: Turkey
description: Star player for Turkey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Christian Pulisic
type: Person
member of: USA
description: Star player for USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Leandro Bacuna
type: Person
member of: Curaçao
description: Star player for Curaçao at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Moisés Caicedo
type: Person
member of: Ecuador
description: Star player for Ecuador at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Florian Wirtz
type: Person
member of: Germany
description: Star player for Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nicolas Pépé
type: Person
member of: Côte d'Ivoire
description: Star player for Côte d'Ivoire at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Takefusa Kubo
type: Person
member of: Japan
description: Star player for Japan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Virgil van Dijk
type: Person
member of: Netherlands
description: Star player for Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Alexander Isak
type: Person
member of: Sweden
description: Star player for Sweden at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Hannibal Mejbri
type: Person
member of: Tunisia
description: Star player for Tunisia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kevin De Bruyne
type: Person
member of: Belgium
description: Star player for Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Belgium midfielder, the creative engine of the Red Devils' attack.

Mohamed Salah
type: Person
member of: Egypt
description: Star player for Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Egypt captain and forward, one of Africa's greatest ever players leading the Pharaohs.

Mehdi Taremi
type: Person
member of: Iran
description: Star player for Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Chris Wood
type: Person
member of: New Zealand
description: Star player for New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Dailon Livramento
type: Person
member of: Cape Verde
description: Star player for Cape Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Salem Al-Dawsari
type: Person
member of: Saudi Arabia
description: Star player for Saudi Arabia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lamine Yamal
type: Person
member of: Spain
description: Star player for Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Spain's teenage sensation, injecting freshness into a team that already dominates possession under Luis de la Fuente.

Federico Valverde
type: Person
member of: Uruguay
description: Star player for Uruguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé
type: Person
member of: France
description: Star player for France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: France forward, winner of the 2018 World Cup and Golden Boot winner at the 2022 tournament.

Aymen Hussein
type: Person
member of: Iraq
description: Star player for Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Erling Haaland
type: Person
member of: Norway
description: Star player for Norway at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Norway striker, one of the world's most prolific goalscorers making his World Cup debut in 2026.

Sadio Mané
type: Person
member of: Senegal
description: Star player for Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Riyad Mahrez
type: Person
member of: Algeria
description: Star player for Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lionel Messi
type: Person
member of: Argentina
description: Star player for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Argentina captain and forward, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. 2026 will likely be his final World Cup appearance.

Konrad Laimer
type: Person
member of: Austria
description: Star player for Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mousa Al-Tamari
type: Person
member of: Jordan
description: Star player for Jordan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Luis Díaz
type: Person
member of: Colombia
description: Star player for Colombia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Yoane Wissa
type: Person
member of: DR Congo
description: Star player for DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo
type: Person
member of: Portugal
description: Star player for Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Portugal captain and forward, the all-time leading scorer in men's international football. 2026 marks his final World Cup appearance.

Abdukodir Khusanov
type: Person
member of: Uzbekistan
description: Star player for Uzbekistan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Luka Modric
type: Person
member of: Croatia
description: Star player for Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: Croatia captain and midfielder, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner leading his team in his final World Cup.

Harry Kane
type: Person
member of: England
description: Star player for England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
description: England captain and striker, the team's all-time leading goalscorer leading the Three Lions under Thomas Tuchel.

Antoine Semenyo
type: Person
member of: Ghana
description: Star player for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Michael Murillo
type: Person
member of: Panama
description: Star player for Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Participating Teams
type: CreativeWork
description: All 48 national teams qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across 12 groups.
has part: Czechia
has part: Mexico
has part: South Africa
has part: South Korea
has part: Bosnia and Herzegovina
has part: Canada
has part: Qatar
has part: Switzerland
has part: Brazil
has part: Haiti
has part: Morocco
has part: Scotland
has part: Australia
has part: Paraguay
has part: Turkey
has part: USA
has part: Curaçao
has part: Ecuador
has part: Germany
has part: Côte d'Ivoire
has part: Japan
has part: Netherlands
has part: Sweden
has part: Tunisia
has part: Belgium
has part: Egypt
has part: Iran
has part: New Zealand
has part: Cape Verde
has part: Saudi Arabia
has part: Spain
has part: Uruguay
has part: France
has part: Iraq
has part: Norway
has part: Senegal
has part: Algeria
has part: Argentina
has part: Austria
has part: Jordan
has part: Colombia
has part: DR Congo
has part: Portugal
has part: Uzbekistan
has part: Croatia
has part: England
has part: Ghana
has part: Panama

Tournament Groups
type: CreativeWork
description: The 12 groups (A-L) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, each containing 4 teams.
has part: Group A
has part: Group B
has part: Group C
has part: Group D
has part: Group E
has part: Group F
has part: Group G
has part: Group H
has part: Group I
has part: Group J
has part: Group K
has part: Group L

Regional Confederations
type: CreativeWork
description: The six regional football confederations that govern qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
has part: Union of European Football Associations
has part: Confederation of African Football
has part: Asian Football Confederation
has part: South American Football Confederation
has part: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
has part: Oceania Football Confederation

2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions
type: FAQPage
main entity: How many teams are playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
main entity: Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
main entity: Which countries are making their World Cup debut in 2026?
main entity: Which past champion failed to qualify for 2026?
main entity: What is the tournament format with 48 teams?
main entity: How many slots does each confederation get?
main entity: Which team has won the most World Cup titles?
main entity: Who are the defending champions?
main entity: Which teams are considered favorites for 2026?
main entity: How many players are participating in the tournament?
main entity: Which countries are returning after long absences?
main entity: Where will the matches be played?

How many teams are playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
type: Question
text: How many teams are playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
accepted answer: Answer 1
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 1
type: Answer
text: The 2026 FIFA World Cup features a record 48 teams, expanded from the traditional 32-team format that had been in place since 1998.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
type: Question
text: Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
accepted answer: Answer 2
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 2
type: Answer
text: 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).
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries are making their World Cup debut in 2026?
type: Question
text: Which countries are making their World Cup debut in 2026?
accepted answer: Answer 3
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 3
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Which past champion failed to qualify for 2026?
type: Question
text: Which past champion failed to qualify for 2026?
accepted answer: Answer 4
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 4
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tournament format with 48 teams?
type: Question
text: What is the tournament format with 48 teams?
accepted answer: Answer 5
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 5
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

How many slots does each confederation get?
type: Question
text: How many slots does each confederation get?
accepted answer: Answer 6
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 6
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Which team has won the most World Cup titles?
type: Question
text: Which team has won the most World Cup titles?
accepted answer: Answer 7
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 7
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the defending champions?
type: Question
text: Who are the defending champions?
accepted answer: Answer 8
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 8
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Which teams are considered favorites for 2026?
type: Question
text: Which teams are considered favorites for 2026?
accepted answer: Answer 9
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 9
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

How many players are participating in the tournament?
type: Question
text: How many players are participating in the tournament?
accepted answer: Answer 10
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 10
type: Answer
text: According to The Guardian's complete player guide, the tournament features all 1,248 players across the 48 squads (26 players per team).
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries are returning after long absences?
type: Question
text: Which countries are returning after long absences?
accepted answer: Answer 11
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 11
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the matches be played?
type: Question
text: Where will the matches be played?
accepted answer: Answer 12
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

Answer 12
type: Answer
text: 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.
is part of: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Frequently Asked Questions

FIFA
type: DefinedTerm
description: Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the international governing body of association football.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Confederation
type: DefinedTerm
description: A regional governing body under FIFA that organizes football within a geographic area. There are six confederations: UEFA, CAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and OFC.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Group Stage
type: DefinedTerm
description: 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.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Knockout Stage
type: DefinedTerm
description: The elimination phase of the tournament featuring 32 teams in a single-elimination bracket format, from the Round of 32 through to the Final.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Host
type: DefinedTerm
description: A country that stages World Cup matches. The 2026 tournament features three hosts: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Debutant
type: DefinedTerm
description: 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.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Playoff
type: DefinedTerm
description: Additional qualification matches between teams from different confederations competing for the final World Cup slots. Iraq and DR Congo qualified through intercontinental playoffs.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Squad
type: DefinedTerm
description: The group of players selected by each national team for the tournament. Each World Cup 2026 squad consists of 26 players.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Star Player
type: DefinedTerm
description: A team's most influential or recognized player, typically identified by skill, leadership, and impact on the team's performance.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

Bracket
type: DefinedTerm
description: The tournament tree structure that maps how teams advance through the knockout rounds from the Round of 32 to the Final.
in defined term set: 2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary

2026 FIFA World Cup — Glossary
type: DefinedTermSet
has defined term: FIFA
has defined term: Confederation
has defined term: Group Stage
has defined term: Knockout Stage
has defined term: Host
has defined term: Debutant
has defined term: Playoff
has defined term: Squad
has defined term: Star Player
has defined term: Bracket

How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup
type: HowTo
description: A step-by-step guide to understanding and following the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament structure.
step: Understand the Tournament Format
step: Learn the Groups and Teams
step: Identify the Star Players
step: Follow the Group Stage Matches
step: Track the Knockout Bracket
step: Watch for Historical Moments
step: Explore the Knowledge Graph

Understand the Tournament Format
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: 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.
is part of: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Learn the Groups and Teams
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: 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).
is part of: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Identify the Star Players
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: 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).
is part of: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the Group Stage Matches
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: 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.
is part of: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Track the Knockout Bracket
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: 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.
is part of: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Watch for Historical Moments
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: 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?
is part of: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Explore the Knowledge Graph
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: 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.
is part of: How to Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Mapped: The 48 Nations Playing in FIFA World Cup 2026
type: Article
author: Gabriel Cohen
date published: 2026-06-06
publisher: Visual Capitalist

World Cup 2026: guide to all 1,248 players
type: Article
author: Marcus Christenson
date published: 2026-06-04
publisher: The Guardian

All-Time World Cup Champions
type: CreativeWork
description: The eight nations that have won the FIFA World Cup since the tournament began in 1930.

Brazil
type: SportsTeam
location: Brazil
description: Brazil has won 5 World Cup title(s): 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002.
award: World Cup Champion

Germany
type: SportsTeam
location: Germany
description: Germany has won 4 World Cup title(s): 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014.
award: World Cup Champion

Italy
type: SportsTeam
location: Italy
description: Italy has won 4 World Cup title(s): 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006.
award: World Cup Champion

Argentina
type: SportsTeam
location: Argentina
description: Argentina has won 3 World Cup title(s): 1978, 1986, 2022.
award: World Cup Champion

France
type: SportsTeam
location: France
description: France has won 2 World Cup title(s): 1998, 2018.
award: World Cup Champion

Uruguay
type: SportsTeam
location: Uruguay
description: Uruguay has won 2 World Cup title(s): 1930, 1950.
award: World Cup Champion

England
type: SportsTeam
location: England
description: England has won 1 World Cup title(s): 1966.
award: World Cup Champion

Spain
type: SportsTeam
location: Spain
description: Spain has won 1 World Cup title(s): 2010.
award: World Cup Champion