World Cup 2026: New teams make historic first appearance
KATHMANDU: The expansion of the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 48 teams has opened the door for four nations to make their historic first-ever appearance on football’s biggest stage at the 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Curaçao, and Jordan have all secured qualification, increasing the total number of countries that have ever played in a World Cup from 80 to 84 in the 96-year history of the competition.
As the global football spectacle approaches, here is a comprehensive look at the four debutant teams and their journey to North America.
Cape Verde: Small Island Nation, Big Football Dream
Cape Verde, a small island country south of the Sahara with a population of around 250,000, has achieved its greatest sporting success by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.
Since gaining independence in 1975 and beginning international football in 1978, Cape Verde has steadily built a competitive football culture. Under coach Pedro Leitão Brito, popularly known as “Bubista,” the team has transformed into a disciplined and resilient unit.
Cape Verde qualified after an outstanding campaign, winning all five of their home matches without conceding a single goal. Their strong home form played a decisive role in securing qualification.
In the African qualifiers, Cape Verde topped a group that included giants Cameroon and Angola, finishing ahead of Cameroon by four points. The team is currently ranked 67th in the FIFA rankings.
Veteran players such as Ryan Mendes, Vozinha, and Roberto Lopes have been central to their journey, finally turning years of near-misses into success. Bubista, a former international who played in Portugal, Spain, and Angola, has been credited with shaping the team’s modern identity.
Cape Verde will begin their World Cup campaign against Spain on June 15 in Group H, followed by matches against Uruguay on June 22 and Saudi Arabia on June 27.
Uzbekistan: Years of Pain Finally End in Glory
Uzbekistan has finally achieved its long-awaited World Cup dream after 36 years of independence and seven previous qualifying attempts.
Despite consistent progress in recent years, the Central Asian side had repeatedly fallen short—until now. The expansion of the tournament also played a role, but Uzbekistan earned qualification through strong and consistent performances in the Asian qualifiers.
They finished second in their second-round group behind Iran, before producing an impressive third-round campaign with 6 wins, 3 draws, and only 1 defeat in 10 matches. Their only loss came against Qatar, while a crucial draw against the UAE secured their qualification.
Historically, Uzbekistan has suffered heartbreaks in previous campaigns, including controversial eliminations and penalty shootout defeats, particularly against Jordan in past qualifiers.
Key figures such as Server Djeparov, Odil Ahmedov, and Ignatiy Nesterov have been instrumental in the team’s development over the years.
The team is coached by Fabio Cannavaro, the former Italy captain and World Cup winner.
Uzbekistan will open their World Cup journey against Colombia on June 18 in Group K, followed by a blockbuster clash against Portugal on June 23 and Congo on June 28.
Curaçao: The Smallest Nation at the Tournament
Curaçao, with a population of just 150,000 and an area of 276 square kilometers, will be the smallest nation ever to compete in a World Cup.
Their qualification was confirmed after a goalless draw against Jamaica in Kingston, which secured top position in their CONCACAF qualifying group.
A former Dutch colony, Curaçao’s squad largely consists of players of Dutch origin, many of whom were born or developed their football careers in the Netherlands. The country became autonomous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2011.
The team is ranked 82nd in the FIFA rankings and is coached by Dutch football legend Dick Advocaat.
Curaçao finished ahead of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda in the final qualifying round, with Jamaica forced into intercontinental playoffs.
The nation’s first World Cup appearance will begin against Germany on June 14 in Group E, followed by Ecuador on June 21 and Ivory Coast on June 26.
Jordan: A Historic Breakthrough After Decades of Effort
Jordan has finally secured its first-ever World Cup qualification after decades of attempts since 1986.
Their breakthrough came after a dominant 3–0 win over Oman, confirming their place in the 2026 tournament.
In the Asian qualifiers, Jordan topped their second-round group ahead of Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Pakistan, before continuing their strong form in the third round.
They finished second in their group behind South Korea, recording 4 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses in 10 matches to secure direct qualification.
Jordan is currently ranked 63rd in the FIFA rankings.
Their World Cup campaign will begin against Austria on June 1 in Group J, followed by matches against Algeria on June 22 and reigning champions Argentina on June 27.
A New Era in World Football
With the expansion to 48 teams, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the most inclusive edition in history. For Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Curaçao, and Jordan, it marks not just qualification—but the beginning of a new chapter in their football history on the world stage.
