With more teams to qualify than ever we take a look at the situation in the different confederations, from Japan being close to securing their place to Brazil’s struggles

The road to the 2026 World Cup, an unprecedented 48-team event, is under way. The final tournament, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, expands to 104 matches across 16 cities. Here is all you need to know about the diverse qualification paths for each confederation, key matches and emerging contenders.

Iran v UAE, 20 March

South Korea v Jordan, 25 March

Niger v Morocco, 21 March

Sudan v Senegal, 22 March