Only eight months remain until the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament begins. And just two months remain until FIFA determines which teams will face each other in the opening rounds of the 48-team tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico (June 11-July 19, 2026). Which teams have already sealed their spots? Which ones are on the brink? And what key matches are worth following as the World Cup field begins to take shape? Here’s a breakdown of the qualification process. (The number of teams that will qualify from each region are in parentheses): As joint hosts, the United States, Mexico and Canada qualified for the World Cup automatically. That’s why you’re seeing all three playing friendly matches this fall. It’s their way of staying in shape without the rigor of the full qualifying process. Even with those three out of the picture, North American qualifying is fiercely competitive. Twelve teams remain of the 41 in the region; three of them will qualify directly for the World Cup whileRead More
2026 World Cup: What teams are in, who’s close and key qualifying matches to watch
