Teams announced for World Cup 2026 debut

Four New Teams to Participate in 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to feature four new teams competing in its premier showpiece for the first time. Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will join the existing 44-team lineup, expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.

Cape Verde, a small archipelago off the coast of Senegal with a population of approximately 525,000, will become the third-least populous country to participate in a World Cup. The team’s captain, Ryan Mendes, led them to a 3-0 win over Eswatini in October, securing their spot at the tournament.

Cape Verde has a rich football history, having participated in four African Cup of Nations tournaments and reaching the quarterfinals in 2023. They topped their group in both the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup qualifying, finishing ahead of Cameroon.

Curacao, with a population of 160,000, is the smallest country to qualify for the World Cup. The team’s squad consists entirely of players from the Dutch diaspora, who play in foreign leagues. Former Netherlands youth international Tahith Chong is one of the notable players, while Patrick Kluivert, a former Ajax and Barcelona star, is also a prominent figure.

Jordan and Uzbekistan will also make their World Cup debut this summer. The teams’ participation marks a significant milestone for inclusivity in football’s premier tournament.

Source: Al Jazeera