Qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup began on Oct. 12, 2023, when minor nations from the Asian confederation played their first round of matches. Myanmar's Lwin Moe Aung scored the very first goal in a 5-1 win over Macau.

All confederations are drawing to a close, but we're a long way from discovering the list of 45 nations who will join hosts United States , Mexico and Canada to make up the full field of 48.

Japan were the very first country to qualify on March 20.

QUALIFIED (10/45): Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador

What can be decided this week

South America: Wraps up its qualifying programme with a double header of games on Thursday and Tuesday. Up for grabs are three automatic places at the finals, plus o

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