FIFA has officially highlighted Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan as the four nations set to make their historic debuts at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement was shared through FIFA’s official X account alongside celebratory collage images featuring emotional qualification moments from the four countries. The visuals included jubilant Curaçao players, a passionate Cabo Verde supporter holding a “We Are 26” sign, a Jordan player celebrating inside a packed stadium, and an Uzbekistan star in action.
FIFA revealed:
Four teams will be making their @FIFAWorldCup debut this year. Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, Uzbekistan.
Softfootball understands that the qualification of these nations has been made possible by the expansion of the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, creating opportunities for emerging football countries to compete on the biggest stage for the first time in history.
FIFA’s latest post follows its recent unveiling of the Technical Study Group (TSG) for the tournament. The specialized panel will analyze all 104 matches during the competition and help determine major individual awards such as the Golden Ball.
![FIFA Unveils 2026 World Cup Technical Study Group Ahead of Tournament Kickoff - photo credit [FIFA media]](https://www.softfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HIC3QmlXMAEwh2.jpg)
The Technical Study Group will work under the guidance of legendary former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, while former Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler leads technical operations.
FIFA has also continued expanding its global development projects after recently launching the Football for Schools (F4S) programme in Curaçao and Turkmenistan as part of its member association activities.
The debut of these four nations adds fresh excitement and new storylines ahead of the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States beginning in June 2026.
