The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the introduction of a 48-team format, expanding from 32 teams in prior years. With more teams having the opportunity to qualify for the tournament, there are several nations that will be playing in the FIFA World Cup for the first time. While many of the top-contending teams dominate the headlines, these teams will also be making history by playing in the tournament.
Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde is a relatively new face to the game of soccer, playing their first match on April 19, 1978. Currently, Cabo Verde is ranked as the 69th best team in the world by FIFA, a spot that the nation has hovered around for roughly the past decade.
While the team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, they were able to make their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification in 2013, reaching the quarter-finals. The team returned to AFCON three more times, in 2015, 2021 and 2023, reaching the quarter-finals once again in their most recent appearance.
Cabo Verde secured their spot in the tournament by finishing at the top of CAF qualifying group D, recording seven wins, two draws and a loss. Cabo Verde’s qualification made them the third-least populated nation to participate in the tournament since Iceland in 2018. The country boasts a population of 500,000, making their participation in the tournament even more impressive.
Cabo Verde will be playing in Group H, which consists of Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. The team will be playing its three group stage matches in Atlanta, Miami and Houston, looking to leave their mark in the nation’s first appearance in the tournament. The team’s first match will come as a great challenge, facing Spain, the second best team in the world according to FIFA rankings, though Cabo Verde will look to defy the odds.
Curaçao
Curaçao has played under the status of a separate constituent country since 2011, but has failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup until now. The team’s history runs deep, first playing as the Territory of Curaçao, then the Netherlands Antilles, however, neither of them were able to qualify for the tournament. The team played its first match as Curaçao on August 20, 2011 against Dominican Republic in a 1-0 loss.
Since playing as a separate country, Curaçao has qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup three times, with their best placement coming in 2019, when the team reached the quarter-finals. In 2017, Curaçao won the CFU Caribbean Cup, which pits the national teams from the Caribbean against one another.
Curaçao qualified for the tournament by finishing at the top of Group B in the third round of CONCACAF qualification. The nation became the smallest country by population and area, containing just over 150,000 people and an area of 171 square miles, to participate in the FIFA World Cup. Curaçao is currently ranked as the 82nd best team in the world by FIFA’s rankings.
Curaçao will be playing in Group E at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which contains Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. The team’s three matches will be played in Houston, Kansas City and Philadelphia. Curaçao has already made history by qualifying for the tournament and will look to continue doing so once the tournament begins.
Jordan
Jordan’s first attempt qualifying for the FIFA World Cup came in 1986, when the team failed to do so, winning one game and losing three others. Despite attempting to qualify in 1986, the team existed for decades prior, with Jordan’s first international match being a 3-1 loss to Egypt in 1953.
Jordan recently had its best finish in the AFC Asian Cup, which looks to crown the continent’s best team, finishing in second place in 2023. Jordan is currently ranked as the 63rd best team in the world, a significant improvement from being 118th eight years ago. The nation secured its spot in the tournament by finishing in the top two of Group B in the third round of AFC qualifying.
The nation will be competing in Group J for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which consists of reigning champions Argentina, Algeria and Austria. The team’s three group stage matches will be played in Santa Clara, California and Arlington, Texas. An appearance in the FIFA World Cup has been a long time coming for Jordan and the team will look to make the most out of it next month.
Uzbekistan
The modern Uzbekistan national team was created in the 1990s, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The nation played its first match in 1992 against Tajikistan. Uzbekistan routinely qualifies for the AFC Asian Cup, playing in every rendition of the tournament since 1996, with their best finish coming in 2011, when the team was fourth place.
Uzbekistan is currently ranked as the 50th best team in the world by FIFA’s rankings, marking an upwards trend for the team. The last time that Uzbekistan was ranked above 50th in the men’s rankings was 2016, when the team was 48th.
Uzbekistan is set to play in Group K, which consists of Portugal, DR Congo and Colombia. The team’s three group stage matches are taking place in Mexico City, Houston and Atlanta. Of the four teams making their FIFA World Cup debut, Uzbekistan is the highest-ranked among them. The nation will hope to make their first appearance in the tournament a memorable one.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just over a month away, the United States, Mexico and Canada will be hosting one of the biggest events in sports history. These four teams will be making history by competing in their first FIFA World Cup, with the ultimate goal of reaching the final match, which is being held in the Meadowlands.
