With 2025 having arrived, it now means that the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States is next year. That’s right, next year there will be a home World Cup and some of the world’s best players will be gracing the pitch in Vancouver (although with Ryan Gauld we’re all used to seeing that).

This will be the first time the tournament has had 48 nations participating, up from 32 for recent editions, presenting more underdog nations with the opportunity to compete.

With 5 of the 6 FIFA confederations well underway in their qualifying campaigns, the new year brings the perfect opportunity to look at which teams should begin looking at flights.

The hosts have automatic qualification, leaving 45 slots up for grabs which are to be decided on the pitch.

Qualified

– Canada

– Mexico

– USA

Let’s take a look at which teams are likely to be adding their names to that list.

Africa – CAF

African qualifiers have only just started, but already there are some potential qualification shocks. For this tournament there will be 9 African sides, and as there are 9 qualification groups only the group winners will progress.

After their incredible run to 4^th place in 2022, Morocco currently lead Group E, which has one less team in it after Eritrea pulled out of qualifying. Egypt, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria and Tunisia all lead their respective groups, having been drawn as favourites, and will all expect to qualify.

The other 3 groups have the potential for surprises. In Group I Comoros currently top the group, ahead of 4-time African Cup of Nations winners Ghana on goal difference. Comoros have risen to 103^rd in the world, and defeated the Black Stars earlier in qualification, boosting their chances.

Group C has a very tight battle, with Rwanda, Benin and 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa locked in first on 7 points from 4 games. Favourites Nigeria currently sit in 5^th place in that group having not won a qualification match yet.

The biggest surprise is in Group B, where Sudan, who are currently ranked 113^th in the world, are 2 points ahead of 17^th ranked Senegal. Whilst Sudan still have to play Senegal twice, the Falcons of Jedaine do still have a huge opportunity to secure their place at their first ever World Cup.

Whitecaps FC II striker Cyprien Kachwele has previously been called up to the Tanzania squad for qualifiers. Although they are in a group with Morocco, Tanzania have 6 points from 3 and look well set to take advantage of any slip ups.

Asia – AFC

The AFC is already into the third round of the qualifying series. In this round there are 3 groups of 6 teams. The top 2 teams in each group will be on the plane, and they will be joined by 2 of the others who finish between 3^rd and 4^th. Many of the first teams to qualify will be from Asia, as there are only 4 rounds of matches left at this stage.

In Group A Iran lead the way, unbeaten, and they can all but secure qualification with a win over the UAE in their next match. Uzbekistan are currently in second place, hoping to qualify for their first ever World Cup. 2022 hosts Qatar have had a disappointing qualifying campaign, sitting in 4^th place, 6^th points outside of the automatic spots.

In Group B South Korea, who have former Whitecaps midfielder Hwang-Im Beom in midfield, are the favourites, and they top the group. Behind them, Iraq and Jordan are battling it out for second place, with both sides hoping to capitalize on the increased opportunities for Asian nations and secure a rare World Cup appearance.

In Group C, Japan are set to become the first team to secure their qualification for the tournament and will do so if they can defeat Bahrain in their next match. Remarkably, behind them Australia are in second and have 7 points, with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China and Bahrain all on 6. Any of these teams could still qualify in second place, meaning this qualification group is still wide open and is definitely one to watch.

Europe – UEFA

Qualification for European sides hasn’t started yet, with many of the qualification groups still unknown depending on results in the Nations League.

Whitecaps DP’s Ryan Gauld and Stuart Armstrong will be hoping to fire Scotland to their first World Cup in 28 years. They will face a tough task to progress out of the group, taking on Greece, Belarus, and one of Germany or Italy.

North America – CONCACAF

Without the three main superpowers participating in qualification, the qualifying scene in North America looks very different to normal. As the final qualifying round hasn’t started, it is impossible to say which teams are the most likely to be amongst the 3 who will qualify.

Qualification from this round will be awarded to the teams who finish in the top 2 of their 5 team groups, with each team playing each other once. Currently, at most 2 matches have been played by each team, meaning it is far to early to determine chances of progression.

Oceania – OFC

We can already narrow down the team who will qualify from Oceania to one of 4 sides. Either New Caledonia, Fiji, New Zealand or Tahiti will be at the World Cup in 2026, having progressed from their qualification groups.

New Zealand are the overwhelming favourites, having won all 3 of their group matches with a combined goal difference of 18, and are the only one of the four sides to have qualified for the World Cup. However, with single matches deciding the winners of the semi-finals and the qualification final, an upset isn’t impossible, though unlikely as the qualification tournament is being held in New Zealand.

Tahiti won the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, after New Caledonia had knocked out New Zealand in the semi-final. This should be a reminder to all competing nations that New Zealand are beatable, and that there is the opportunity to qualify for a first World Cup to be taken for all participating nations.

South America – CONMEBOL

The South American World Cup qualifiers are already over half completed. Unusually compared to the rest of the world, these teams compete in one, 10 team league, with the top 6 teams qualifying automatically.

World Champions Argentina are currently leading the group, and they look set to have the chance to defend their title as they are 13 points clear of 7^th place Bolivia.

Behind them, Uruguay, Colombia and Brazil all look well placed to secure their ticket to the finals. Pedro Vite’s Ecuador currently sit in third place, despite having three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Paraguay, who have Andres Cubas in their midfield, are currently in the final automatic qualifying spot, with a 4-point advantage over Bolivia.

Intercontinental Play-Off

Although there is lots of soccer to be played before determining which teams may participate, there will be a play-off to determine the final 2 countries who qualify. There will be 2 teams from North America participating, as well as one country from each confederation apart from UEFA.