The 2026 World Cup qualifiers, set to take place in North America with the participation of 48 teams, have come to a close, featuring numerous thrilling events and unexpected results. After two and a half years of fierce competition, the list of qualified teams has been finalized, paving the way for a new phase of anticipation and challenges.
In one of the strangest stories of the qualifiers, the Sweden national team managed to qualify for the World Cup despite not winning any matches in the group stage. Some may wonder: how can a team that has not won a single match qualify? The answer lies in the unique qualification system of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), where Sweden drew two matches and lost four, placing them at the bottom of their group. However, they received a second chance to qualify thanks to their previous results in the UEFA Nations League.
Event Details
Sweden topped its group in the third division of the UEFA Nations League, outperforming teams like Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Estonia, which qualified them for the World Cup playoff. In the European playoff, Sweden achieved a victory over Ukraine with a score of 3-1 in the semifinals, followed by a win against Poland with a score of 3-2 in the decisive final match.
On the other hand, the Italian national team, a four-time world champion, has once again failed to qualify for the World Cup, confirming its inability to qualify after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout. This failure recalls Italy's absence from the last two World Cup editions in 2018 and 2022.
Background & Context
The absence of the Italian team comes at a time when several Italian coaches are leading other national teams. Coach Vincenzo Montella led the Turkey national team to qualification, while Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup champion, took charge of the Uzbekistan national team, which qualified for the first time. Additionally, Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the coach of the Brazil national team following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti from coaching Italy.
Attention is also directed towards the Iran national team, which faces political challenges related to its entry into the United States. Despite the suspension of the local league, the Iranian team appears ready to participate, but there are calls to move its matches to Mexico due to current circumstances.
Impact & Consequences
The expanded version of the World Cup allows for the emergence of new teams, with Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cabo Verde, and Curaçao qualifying. Curaçao, the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup, has a population of approximately 156,000, while Cabo Verde ranks third in population among the participating countries.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo returns to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, highlighting the significance of this edition in reviving teams that have been absent for long periods.
Regional Significance
As the tournament approaches, fans face challenges in obtaining visas to enter the United States, especially from countries like Iraq, Turkey, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The American president has pledged to provide expedited services for World Cup ticket holders.
The 2026 edition appears to be an unprecedented mix of opportunities and challenges, where sports intersect with politics, opening the door for new stories to be written on the largest football stage on Earth.