FIFA sent a private plane so Iraq could simply show up
In the final hours of a months-long global reckoning, the last six nations claimed their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a tournament that, for the first time, will gather 48 teams across the shared soil of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among them are stories that stretch across half a century: Congo returning to football's grandest stage after 52 years of absence, and Iraq arriving despite the weight of regional conflict, diplomatic entanglement, and the quiet intervention of FIFA itself. The world, in all its complexity, has assembled.
- Sweden, having finished last in their European qualifying group with just two points, found an unlikely lifeline through the Nations League and then dismantled Ukraine and Poland to reach the World Cup — a reminder that football's new structures can resurrect the seemingly eliminated.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered the playoff's most dramatic upset, eliminating Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes — a result that will echo far beyond the bracket.
- Iraq's path to qualification was shadowed by war, visa denials, canceled training camps, and the absence of European-based players, ultimately requiring FIFA to charter a private plane just to get the squad to Mexico.
- Congo's 1-0 victory over Jamaica in Guadalajara closed a 52-year absence from the World Cup, a return made possible by dismantling Cameroon and Nigeria along the way and built on the talents of a new generation.
- The completed 48-team field — spread across 12 groups instead of the traditional eight — marks a structural transformation of the tournament, one that rewrites qualification mathematics and brings unfamiliar continental rivalries to the surface.
On Tuesday, the final chapter of World Cup 2026 qualification was written. Six teams secured their places through European playoffs and intercontinental repechage, completing a historic 48-team roster set to open play on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Turkey, finishing second in Europe's Group E behind Spain, eliminated Romania and Kosovo by identical 1-0 margins and will face the host United States, Australia, and Paraguay in Group D. Sweden's journey was far stranger: they finished last in their qualifying group with just two points, yet earned a playoff berth through the Nations League, then defeated Ukraine and Poland to advance. The Czech Republic survived back-to-back penalty shootouts against Ireland and Denmark, while Bosnia and Herzegovina produced the tournament's most stunning result — eliminating Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw through extra time.
Beyond Europe, two stories carried a different kind of weight. The Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Jamaica 1-0 in Guadalajara to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire. Built around players like Fiston Mayele and Yoane Wissa, and having already eliminated Cameroon and Nigeria, Congo's return felt less like qualification and more like restoration.
Iraq's path was defined by obstacles few teams have ever faced. Caught in the administrative paralysis of their country's entanglement in regional conflict, the team lost access to European-based players, faced visa complications, and canceled a planned training camp in Houston. FIFA intervened directly, providing a private aircraft to bring the squad to Mexico. Once there, Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 — a result that transcended sport.
With the field now complete, the expanded 48-team, 12-group format reshapes everything familiar about the World Cup. The June kickoff will carry not only goals and group tables, but the full, uneven weight of the world that produced them.
On Tuesday, the final whistle blew on the 2026 World Cup qualification process. Six teams punched their tickets to the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico through a combination of European playoffs and intercontinental repechage matches, completing the historic 48-team roster that will begin play on June 11.
Turkey arrived as the second-place finisher in Europe's Group E, accumulating 13 points across six matches—three fewer than Spain, who claimed the direct berth. In the knockout rounds, the Turks disposed of Romania and Kosovo by identical 1-0 scorelines to secure their spot. They will compete in Group D alongside the host nation United States, Australia, and Paraguay.
Sweden's path was far more improbable. The Scandinavian side endured a disastrous European qualifying campaign, finishing last in their group with just two points and no victories in six games. Yet they gained entry to the playoffs by winning their Nations League group during the 2024-25 season—a competition that provided four additional repechage slots. Once in the knockout stage, Sweden proved formidable, defeating Ukraine 3-1 and Poland 3-2 to advance. They will face the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia in Group F.
The Czech Republic finished second in their European group with 16 points, trailing Croatia's 22. In the playoffs, they navigated a penalty shootout against Ireland after a 2-2 draw, then defeated Denmark on penalties following another 2-2 tie in extra time. Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa will be their Group A opponents.
Bosnia and Herzegovina claimed second place in their qualifying group with 17 points, just two behind Austria. Their playoff run included a penalty victory over Wales after a 1-1 stalemate, followed by a stunning 4-1 penalty triumph over Italy after the teams drew 1-1 through 120 minutes. They will join Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar in Group B.
The Democratic Republic of Congo delivered one of the tournament's most resonant stories. Playing in Guadalajara, Mexico, they defeated Jamaica 1-0 to secure a place in the World Cup for the first time in 52 years—their last appearance came in 1974 when they competed as Zaire. Under coach Sébastien Desabre, Congo had dismantled African powerhouses Cameroon and Nigeria in earlier playoff rounds, showcasing a squad built around talents like Fiston Mayele and Yoane Wissa. They will compete in Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Iraq's qualification carried the weight of extraordinary circumstance. The team faced cascading obstacles: administrative paralysis rooted in their nation's involuntary entanglement in the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, visa complications transiting through the United Arab Emirates, and the unavailability of players based abroad, primarily in Europe. They even canceled a planned training camp in Houston. FIFA ultimately intervened, providing a private aircraft to transport the squad to Mexico for the intercontinental repechage final. Against Bolivia, Iraq prevailed 2-1, earning their second World Cup appearance after finishing second-to-last at Mexico 1986.
With these six additions, the 48-team field is now complete. The tournament will unfold across 12 groups, a structural departure from the traditional 32-team, eight-group format that has defined the World Cup for decades. The expansion reshapes qualification mathematics, creates unfamiliar continental pairings, and ensures that the June kickoff will feature stories of redemption, resilience, and the raw logistics of moving a global competition across three nations.
Notable Quotes
Congo celebrated in Guadalajara after defeating Jamaica 1-0, securing a historic return to the World Cup— Match report
Iraq overcame administrative obstacles, visa complications, and player unavailability, with FIFA providing a private aircraft to transport the team to Mexico— Tournament logistics
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Congo's return after 52 years feel different from the other five qualifiers?
Because it's not just a team coming back—it's a country reclaiming something. Zaire in 1974 was a different era entirely. This is Congo proving it belongs on the world stage again, and doing it by beating the teams everyone expected to advance.
And Iraq—that's a different kind of story altogether, isn't it?
Completely different. Iraq had to fight just to get to the match. The geopolitics, the visa problems, players scattered across Europe unable to leave their clubs. FIFA literally had to send a plane. That's not normal.
Does the 48-team format change how you think about these six teams' chances?
It does. In the old system, finishing second in your group could mean elimination. Now there's more room to breathe. Sweden barely scraped through qualifying but they're in. That wouldn't have happened before.
Sweden's story is almost absurd—last place in their group, then three wins in the playoffs.
It shows how much the Nations League pathway mattered. They were terrible in traditional qualifying but good enough in a different competition to get a second chance. That's the new World Cup in miniature.
What do you make of the group assignments? Any surprises?
Congo with Portugal and Colombia is fascinating—they're the underdogs in a group with real pedigree. And Bosnia-Herzegovina facing Italy's conquerors in the group stage... there's no easy path for anyone anymore.
Does the expansion feel like it dilutes the tournament or democratizes it?
Both, probably. But when you see Congo back after half a century, or Iraq overcoming what they had to overcome, it's hard to call that dilution.