World Cup will have a record 48 teams. Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot.

Japan become the first nation to book their place in the 2026 World Cup through qualifying after defeating Bahrain 2-0 in Saitama.

Japan has made history by becoming the first team to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. A second-half surge ensured their place in the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Latest scores, table in South America World Cup qualifyingArgentina are sitting pretty atop the standings in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying and have a five-point gap ahead of second-place Uruguay. A win in this game in Montevideo and defeats for Bolivia and Venezuela would all but secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup with five games of qualifying to spare.

Tuchel is currently leading his first England camp and will manage his first game against Albania at Wembley on Friday night.

Over five months on from Thomas Tuchel's appointment as England's new manager, the German will finally take charge of the team for the first time in Friday's World Cup qualifier

England vs Albania starts the World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign for England under Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel has made some bold choices in his squad keeping stalwarts like Jordan Henderson in the side despite having left the Premier League over the last number of years.