The World Cup 2022 is set for the winter - and we now know every country that will be competing. 2022 marks the last tournament in which 32 teams will make the competition with 2026's edition - to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States - to feature an increase of 16 more countries, to bring the participation number up to 48.
Qatar, naturally, qualify for the World Cup 2022 edition as hosts and will do so as the smallest country in size to have ever staged a World Cup. The next smallest, Switzerland, hosted the 1954 World Cup and is three times larger than Qatar.
The holders of the World Cup no longer automatically qualify for the tournament, either. This is a custom of the Champions League but it has not been the case for the World Cup ever since FIFA eradicated it in 2002.
Who has qualified for the World Cup 2022 so far?
All 32 teams heading to Qatar have been decided:
- Qatar (Hosts)
- Germany
- Denmark
- Brazil
- France
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Spain
- Serbia
- England
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- Argentina
- Iran
- South Korea
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- Ecuador
- Uruguay
- Canada
- Ghana
- Senegal
- Portugal
- Poland
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Cameroon
- United States
- Mexico
- Wales
- Australia
- Costa Rica
Germany were the first nation to book their place in Qatar next year with a 100% record in qualifying, shortly followed by Euro 2020 dark horse Denmark and South American staples Brazil. World champions France and FIFA's no.1-ranked side Belgium confirmed their spots shortly after.
2018's runners-up Croatia were next, then Spain, who won the tournament in 2010. Euro 2016 winners Portugal were beaten by Serbia to first place in their qualification group - and will have to enter the play-offs to qualify.
England qualified with a 10-0 thumping of San Marino. In the same night, Switzerland topped their group, beating European champions Italy to the punch, who failed to qualify in the play-offs.
The final European play-off in June saw Wales qualify ahead of Ukraine.
- CAF (Africa): 5 nations
- AFC (Asia): 4.5 nations (not including host nation)*
- UEFA (Europe): 13 nations
- CONCACAF (North and Central America and Caribbean): 3.5*
- OFC (Oceania): 0.5 nations*
- CONMEBOL (South America): 4.5 nations*
*In the case of half-slot allocation, play-offs are contested between teams from different confederations.
Subscribe to FourFourTwo today and save over a third on shop price
