North America plays host to the grandest World Cup in history in 2026, with more nations than ever before competing on football's biggest stage. Qualifying has now started in all member associations, and the journey will be arduous for many. The process started as far back as October 2023 for some.

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.

Who is through and how does qualifying work? - Four countries have booked their spot for June 2026 after the latest round of international fixtures