MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. The world’s governing body of football, FIFA, has released the official list of the 48 nations that will compete at the 2026 World Cup this summer after final qualifiers concluded on March 31, FIFA’s press service said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been completed with six teams clinching the remaining places among the 48 that will make the upcoming tournament in North America the most inclusive ever," the statement reads.

"Iraq were the last team to qualify, defeating Bolivia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament at Monterrey Stadium, Mexico, to earn the final spot in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway and bring to an end a global qualifying campaign that totaled 899 matches over 937 days," the statement continued, adding that "Five more teams earned places on Tuesday, 31 March, as global qualifying campaign ended."

According to FIFA, "A day of high drama began in Europe where from Zenica to Solna, Pristina to Prague, the remaining four of the continent’s 16 representatives were decided. The Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey and Sweden came through gripping play-off games to claim a place in FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups A (the Czech Republic), B (Bosnia and Herzegovina), D (Turkey), and F (Sweden) respectively."

"The focus then switched across the Atlantic to Mexico where the FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts provided the stage on which the remaining two places were determined. Fans of DR Congo can now look forward to seeing their team play Portugal on 17 June in Houston, Texas after they defeated Jamaica 1-0 in Guadalajara to clinch the final spot in Group K," the statement added.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States between June 11 and July 19. The matches will be staged in 16 cities across the three countries. This will be the first FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams instead of the previous 32-team format.

According to FIFA’s press office, more than six million football fans from around the globe are expected to fill stadiums during the tournament.