Introducing the 2026 World Cup newcomers: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, Uzbekistan.
Every soccer enthusiast aspires to witness their country compete in a World Cup, yet for numerous FIFA member associations, that goal remains merely aspirational.
Nonetheless, the increase of participating teams to 48 for the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, has opened opportunities for nations that might have previously missed out, while others have found their momentum at the perfect moment, propelled by talented generations towards their first finals appearance.
The highest number of debutants in World Cup history (excluding the inaugural tournament in 1930) is six. Angola, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, and Ukraine all made their first appearances at the 2006 event.
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Heading into the March playoffs, as many as nine potential newcomers were in contention for 2026, but only four of those teams will be present when the tournament begins on June 11.
Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan have secured their spots, but what do we know about these nations, both on and off the field? For many fans worldwide who will tune in this summer, the knowledge is limited.
We consulted an expert from each debutant nation to gain a better understanding of the underdogs of the 2026 World Cup.
CAPE VERDE
A volcanic archipelago consisting of 10 islands off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde clinched their place by topping Group D in Africa, surpassing Cameroon.
With a population of merely 525,000, Cape Verde is the third smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup, following Iceland in 2018 and fellow 2026 debutants Curaçao. The pivotal victory occurred on October 13 when Cape Verde triumphed over Eswatini 3-0 at home, igniting exuberant celebrations in the capital, Praia.
“On the day of the Eswatini match, I was trying to save energy, but my stomach was filled with nerves,” Cape Verde defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes shared with ESPN.
“I intended to take a pre-game nap, but then one of the other players brought out the speakers and started playing music. We all began dancing. It felt like we knew everything would turn out fine; it had to be our day.”
Music and food have played significant roles in uniting the Cape Verde team, which gathers from various parts of the globe for international matches.
“Music is a vital part of the dressing-room atmosphere,” Lopes noted. “We play traditional songs, funaná music, blending old and modern styles. We enjoy Cachupa (a bean and corn stew) in the evenings and for breakfast. It’s the national dish, and we share it together.”
The Blue Sharks reached the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2023, so they are familiar with high-stakes competition, but the magnitude of qualifying for a World Cup was unmistakable.
“We had been preparing for years, and when the draw was made, there was a sense of determination. We thought, ‘if not now, when?'” Lopes stated.
“The government granted everyone a day off work to watch the Eswatini match, and qualifying means everything. We are a very proud football nation, and for these 10 small islands off the coast of Africa to be alongside the biggest names, how can you not feel proud?”
Cape Verde has been placed in Group H, where they will compete against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.
“The little boy in me wants to face Brazil,” Lopes expressed. “They are the embodiment of the World Cup. But we would have to work hard to reach that point! We are content with our group.”
JORDAN
Jordan is an Arab nation located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, sharing borders with five countries: Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Palestine’s West Bank. It has become a highly sought-after tourist destination, attracting visitors to its UNESCO heritage sites and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
“The most renowned tourist attraction is the ancient city and archaeological site of Petra,” Jordan supporter Zaid Al Atiyat told ESPN. “It’s referred to as the ‘Rose City’ due to its pinkish sandstone and is recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World [following a campaign in 2000 to select Wonders of the World from 200 existing monuments].
“Alternatively, if you wish to experience a Martian landscape without venturing too far, Wadi Rum is an excellent second option. Hollywood films such as Dune, Star Wars, The Martian, and Lawrence of Arabia were filmed there.”
Jordan’s national dish, mansaf, consisting of lamb cooked in a fermented dried yogurt sauce and served with rice or bulgur, is a source of immense pride for the country’s 11.5 million residents, but it also became the center of an on-field controversy.
“During the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round-of-16 match between Jordan and Iraq, Jordan forward Yazan Al-Naimat celebrated his goal by gathering his teammates into a Bedouin-style circle, gesturing as if eating mansaf,” Al Atiyat recounted. “Once Iraq took the lead in the second half, goal scorer Aymen Hussein celebrated by sitting cross-legged in a mansaf gesture of his own, which controversially resulted in a second yellow card from [referee] Alireza Faghani.”
Aymen Hussein has been shown a second yellow for over celebrating! 🍛#AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/9i90ART2zh
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) January 29, 2024
Jordan ultimately triumphed over Iraq, winning 3-2, and advanced to the final, where they were defeated by hosts Qatar.
The Chivalrous Ones secured their World Cup qualification in June 2025 with a 3-0 away victory against Oman, confirming their second-place finish in Asia’s Group B behind South Korea.
“As a child, I never envisioned seeing Jordan on the global stage,” Al Atiyat remarked. “However, the 2023 Asian Cup truly allowed us to dream big in ways we had never imagined.”
Jordan has been placed in Group J for the World Cup, where they will face Austria, Algeria, and Argentina. While this presents a formidable challenge for the newcomers, they possess talented players ready to make an impact.
“Mousa Al-Tamari, with his incredible speed and dribbling, should be the name on everyone’s lips when they think of Jordan,” Al Atiyat noted. “He is the first Jordanian to play and score in a top five league and has established himself as a key player for Stade Rennais.
“Yazan Al-Arab is our cornerstone at center back; he is the first Jordanian to play in K League 1 [or FC Seoul], and he was included in the K League’s 2025 Team of the Year.”
CURAÇAO
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An autonomous Caribbean island within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, known for its beautiful beaches and diving, Curaçao can now also claim a place in soccer history. With a population of just 156,000, Curaçao has become the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, taking advantage of the absence of three traditional giants in CONCACAF’s qualification.
Curaçao’s primary sports are baseball and soccer. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Andrew Jones is from Curaçao, but on the soccer field, achievements have been more elusive.
“Once we learned the tournament would be hosted in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, we knew we had a chance,” Brenton Balentien, also known as Captain Blue Face, a former Curaçao youth international and leader of the nation’s supporters’ group, told ESPN.
However, the qualification journey was not without its challenges. Curaçao had to travel to Jamaica on the final day, needing a draw to secure their place.
“When we defeated Jamaica at home, I felt it was our year, but then I thought I might faint during the away match,” Balentien recounted. “My heart stopped for a few seconds when they were awarded a penalty at the end, but VAR overturned it. That feeling lingers!”
The majority of Curaçao’s players were born in the Netherlands, and they were guided in qualification by renowned Dutch coach Dick Advocaat. Advocaat, who is 78 years old, would have made history as the oldest coach to manage at a World Cup, but he had to step down from the position last month for family reasons. Nevertheless, in addition to strong ties to the Netherlands, Curaçaoan culture is influenced by many other backgrounds.
“Curaçao is a very diverse island, where many different cultures have merged,” Balentien explained. “We speak five or six languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, Papiamento, Portuguese, and French.
“Typically during the World Cup, many people support the Netherlands, but for those born and raised on the island, it is essential to support Brazil. They have been the most favored team since the days of Pelé.”
Curaçao faces a challenging task in Group E against Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast, but regardless of the outcome, it will be a memorable time for the island.
“There is always energy, always a celebration, especially when it comes to sports,” Balentien said. “We know how to enjoy good food and drinks.
“Our specialty is Kuminda di Tera, or earth food. We enjoy goat and iguana, okra soup, which are favorites. For drinks, we have blue Curaçao (a vibrant orange-flavored liquor) — the original and best in the world, produced at a local distillery, Landhuis Chobolobo.
“It will be a celebration whether we win, lose, or draw. We’ll be celebrating the opportunity to play on such a grand stage.”
UZBEKISTAN
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Uzbekistan has become the first Central Asian nation to qualify for a World Cup, finally overcoming the disappointments of past near-misses to reach soccer’s premier event.
Geographically, the former Soviet republic, with a population of around 38 million, shares a unique distinction with the small European principality of Liechtenstein. “Uzbekistan is one of the two doubly landlocked countries in the world [meaning there are two other countries between it and a coastline in any direction],” Uzbekistan supporter Jaloliddin Makhmudov told ESPN.
“Our country was once the center of the Great Silk Road [a vast network of trade routes linking China to the Roman Empire, India, and Africa].”
Uzbekistan also boasts impressive culinary achievements.
“Our traditional dish is known as plov [a hearty one-pot rice dish], and it is served on every occasion, whether it be a wedding or a funeral,” Makhmudov stated. “We even set a Guinness World Record when 7,360kg [16,226 lb] of plov was prepared in Tashkent, the capital.”
Uzbekistan remained unbeaten throughout the second qualifying round and secured their qualification with a game to spare after a goalless draw with the UAE. Alongside the joy, there was a sense of relief following Uzbekistan’s history of near misses.
The White Wolves lost 9-8 on penalties to Jordan in a 2014 World Cup qualification playoff and were controversially eliminated from the 2006 edition on away goals by Bahrain after the first leg was replayed due to a refereeing error.
“The entire nation of Uzbekistan has been anticipating the World Cup for 34 years,” Makhmudov remarked. “We would always fall short in the final round, which was deeply painful for the whole country.
“Football is undoubtedly the most cherished sport in Uzbekistan, even though we excel in boxing. Thus, the World Cup is a monumental occasion. We always believed we could achieve this, and our players have begun to shine in top five leagues while our national league has significantly improved.”
Uzbekistan will be led by Fabio Cannavaro, Italy’s World Cup-winning captain and a Ballon d’Or winner in 2006. Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov will be their most recognized player on the field, but there are other exciting talents ready to make an impact.
“Oston Urunov could capture attention with his exceptional dribbling and shooting abilities,” Makhmudov noted. “And Abbos Fayzullaev is another emerging star who was named the 2023 AFC Youth Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards in 2024. Prepare to be surprised!”
