The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up, with 16 countries now officially qualified for the expanded global tournament.

On Thursday, South American sides Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay became the latest teams to book their tickets after crucial results in the penultimate round of qualifiers. Uruguay and Colombia sealed qualification with dominant 3-0 victories, while Paraguay’s goalless draw was enough to secure their spot.

They join continental heavyweights Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador, who had already punched their tickets earlier in the campaign.

The 2026 edition of the World Cup will be a landmark tournament, featuring a record-breaking 48 teams for the first time. It will also mark the first time the event is co-hosted by three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — all of whom qualify automatically as hosts.

Outside of South America, several nations from Asia and Oceania have also secured early qualification. Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and New Zealand have confirmed their places on football’s biggest stage.

In total, 43 teams will qualify directly through their respective continental competitions. The remaining two slots will be filled through intercontinental playoffs in March 2026, involving six teams battling for the final berths.

Uruguay’s qualification marks the return of the first-ever World Cup champions from 1930, while Jordan’s debut underscores the tournament’s growing global reach.