In focus: The four nations primed to make World Cup debuts
FIFA shines the spotlight on Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan, who have all qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan set to make World Cup debuts
FIFA reflects on how they quartet secured their spots at global showpiece
As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ looms ever larger on the horizon, new contenders are poised to inject fresh impetus into football’s greatest festival. The first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup™ has thrown open the door for rising football nations, four of which will be taking part for the first time: Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
In this article, we look back at how each of them earned their place at the global extravaganza and delve into the key facts and defining moments of their respective qualifying journeys.
Head coach: Bubista How they qualified : Group D winners (CAF qualifying) Top scorer in qualifying: Dailon Livramento (four goals in eight matches) Best showing at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Quarter-finals (2013, 2023)
Cabo Verde have written a significant new chapter into their history by punching their ticket to the World Cup for the first time, thanks to stunning qualifying phase from start to finish. The Blue Sharks ended their campaign with a stellar record of seven wins, two draws and just one defeat.
Their sole defeat came against Cameroon in June 2024, but in September 2025 Bubista's men got their revenge over the Indomitable Lions. A 1-0 win in the Cabo Verdean capital, Praia, saw them take a huge leap towards qualification. A month later, in front of a home crowd once again, they sealed their World Cup berth by beating Eswatini 3-0 on a nerve-shredding final matchday.
Cabo Verde’s success was underpinned by their formidable performances on home turf, where they racked up four wins and a draw without conceding a single goal. One player led the charge en route to the finals: Dailon Livramento. The Casa Pia striker, on loan from Hellas Verona, finished as the group’s joint-top scorer with four goals, keeping pace with household names Vincent Aboubakar and Bryan Mbeumo.
Head coach: Dick Advocaat How they qualified: Group B winners (third round of Concacaf qualifying) Top scorer in qualifying: Gervane Kastaneer (five goals in six matches) Best showing at the Concacaf Championship/Concacaf Gold Cup: Third place (1963, 1969, both as Netherlands Antilles)
Curaçao will be taking part in the global showpiece for the first time after dominating Group B in the third round of Concacaf qualifying. The Blue Wave stamped their passport to the finals thanks to a goalless stalemate against Jamaica in Kingston.
The islanders went ten games unbeaten under the guidance of experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat. They hit the ground running in the second round, registering convincing 4-1 and 4-0 home wins over Barbados and St Lucia, respectively, as well as a 2-0 victory in neighbouring Aruba and an impressive 5-1 triumph away to Haiti.
The third round proved a sterner test, showcasing Curaçao’s strength and resilience as they notched a creditable 2-0 home win over Jamaica and produced an attacking masterclass in a 7-0 rout of Bermuda.
Inspired by talents like Tahith Chong, Kenji Gorre and the Bacuna brothers – Leandro and Juninho – Curaçao will go into the global bonanza in Canada, Mexico and the United States with the enthusiasm of tournament rookies but the confidence of a team on the up and capable of defying expectations.
Head coach: Jamal Sellami How they qualified: Group B runners-up (third round of AFC qualifying) Top scorer in qualifying: Ali Olwan (nine goals in 13 matches) Best showing at the AFC Asian Cup: Runners-up (2023[NF1] )
Jordan earned their maiden World Cup berth after turning a shaky start into a history-making campaign. Entering in the second round of Asian qualifying, the Nashama took some time to get into their stride.
The spoils were shared in their group opener in Tajikistan before a 2-0 home loss to Saudi Arabia left them in a somewhat precarious situation. Yet they managed to bounce back in spectacular fashion when lesser sides might have crumbled. Four consecutive wins, including a barnstorming 7-0 triumph over Pakistan and a 2-1 payback victory over Saudi Arabia, propelled Jordan to the top of Group G, ahead of the Saudis on goal difference.
Their momentum was further bolstered by the arrival of Moroccan tactician Jamal Sellami ahead of the third qualifying round. Spearheaded by the trio of Mousa Al Tamari (seven goals and an assist in 13 games), Yazan Al Naimat (eight goals and four assists in 16 games) and Ali Olwan (nine goals and an assist in 13 games), the Jordanian forward line proved to be one of the most ruthless in the region. The third round yielded a healthy return of four wins, four draws and just two defeats as they finished as Group B runners-up, six points shy of Korea Republic and a point clear of Iraq.
Head coach: Fabio Cannavaro How they qualified: Group A runners-up (third round of AFC qualifying) Top scorer in qualifying: Eldor Shomurodov (five goals in 15 matches) Best showing at the AFC Asian Cup: Fourth place (2011)
Like Jordan, Uzbekistan’s road to the game’s greatest stage began in the second round of AFC qualifying. Under the tutelage of Timur Kapadze until Fabio Cannavaro took the reins in October 2025, the White Wolves quickly proved that they could compete with the continent’s heavyweights by finishing second in Group E, level on points with IR Iran.
That runners-up slot secured safe passage through to the third round, where they renewed acquaintances with Team Melli. Remarkably, the sides could not be separated in any of their four meetings across the two rounds.
While their rivalry with Iran simmered, Uzbekistan underlined their emergence as a force to be reckoned with. Having recorded six wins, three draws and a solitary 3-2 defeat at the hands of Qatar, Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov and company clinched second spot in Group A. In doing so, they finished two points adrift of their Iranian counterparts but ahead of seasoned campaigners like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, thus cementing a historic World Cup berth.