{"id":6771,"date":"2026-05-20T13:35:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/which-teams-will-make-their-debut-at-world-cup-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T13:35:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:35:23","slug":"which-teams-will-make-their-debut-at-world-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/which-teams-will-make-their-debut-at-world-cup-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Which teams will make their debut at World Cup 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>Football\u2019s world governing body, FIFA, has framed the 2026 World Cup\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/14\/fifa-world-cup-2026-what-to-expect-from-the-48-team-format\">expansion from 32 to 48<\/a> teams as a watershed moment for inclusivity, opening the door for nations that have never qualified before.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, four teams will be playing at their first World Cup in North America this summer: Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n<section>\n<h2>Recommended Stories <\/h2>\n<p><span>list of 4 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>list 1 of 4<\/span><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/interactive.aljazeera.com\/aje\/2026\/how-well-do-you-know-football\/?utm_source=aljazeera.com&#038;utm_medium=website&#038;utm_campaign=ucms\">Can you identify all 48 teams in World Cup 2026?<\/a><span>This article will be opened in a new browser window<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>list 2 of 4<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/16\/how-kansas-city-became-unlikely-2026-world-cup-hosts-for-the-us\">\u2018We just wanted it more\u2019: How Kansas City became unlikely World Cup hosts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 3 of 4<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/15\/world-cup-2026-base-camps-argentina-portugal-brazil-england-spain-where-will-they-stay\">World Cup 2026 base camps: Where will the 48 teams stay and train?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 4 of 4<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/14\/fifa-warned-gruelling-heat-could-impact-quarter-of-world-cup-games\">FIFA warned \u2018gruelling heat\u2019 could impact a quarter of World Cup games<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>Here is Al Jazeera\u2019s short guide to the debutants at this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cape-verde\">Cape Verde<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FIFA world ranking:<\/strong> 69<\/li>\n<li><strong>World Cup fixtures (Group H):\u00a0<\/strong>Spain (June 15, Atlanta), Uruguay (June 21, Miami, US), Saudi Arabia (June 26, Houston, US)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Player to watch:<\/strong> Garry Rodrigues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With a population of about 525,000, the small archipelago off the coast of Senegal will become the third-least populous country to participate in a World Cup after Curacao and Iceland.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan Mendes is not even a household name in Turkiye, where he plays for second-tier Igdir, but Cape Verde\u2019s 35-year-old captain was at the heart of their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2025\/10\/14\/cape-verde-clinches-historic-first-qualification-for-fifa-world-cup\">3-0 win over Eswatini<\/a> in October, which booked their place at the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>This was no freak occurrence as Cape Verde topped their group at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which included Ghana, reaching the quarterfinals where they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/liveblog\/2024\/2\/3\/live-cape-verde-vs-south-africa-caf-afcon-2023-football\">lost on penalties<\/a> to South Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Although they failed to reach AFCON 2025, they again topped their group in 2026 World Cup qualifying \u2013 this time finishing ahead of the once-mighty Cameroon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have taken part in four African Cup of Nations tournaments, and we were also very close to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup,\u201d Mendes told the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot has been achieved over the years. And today, we can say that this is the logical outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4574851\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4574851\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/getty_6a06e4b477-1778836660.jpg?w=770&#038;resize=770%2C513&#038;quality=80\" alt=\"AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 30: Garry Rodrigues of Cape Verde is challenged by Onni Valakari of Finland during the FIFA Series match between Cape Verde and Finland at Eden Park on March 30, 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter\/Getty Images)\" fetchpriority=\"low\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4574851\">Garry Rodrigues of Cape Verde is challenged by Onni Valakari of Finland during a match in March [Phil Walter\/Getty Images]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Cape Verde rely heavily on their Portuguese colonial past for a supply of diaspora talent, and also have several Dutch-born players, as well as one from Ireland \u2013 the Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto Lopes. The Dublin-born 33-year-old has a Cape Verdean father and Irish mother and was reportedly recruited for Cape Verde via LinkedIn.<\/p>\n<p>The team\u2019s best-known player, however, is probably 35-year-old winger Garry Rodrigues; now at Cypriot club Apollon Limassol, he has had stints at the likes of Galatasaray and Olympiacos.<\/p>\n<p>But even without mega-star names, Mendes is certain that the Blue Sharks can make a mark at the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne thing\u2019s for sure: we\u2019re not going there just to play three games and come home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"curacao\">Curacao<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FIFA world ranking:<\/strong> 82<\/li>\n<li><strong>World Cup fixtures (Group E):<\/strong> Germany (June 14, Houston, US), Ecuador (June 20, Kansas City, US), Ivory Coast (June 25, Philadelphia, US)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Player to watch:<\/strong> Tahith Chong<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cSmall island, big dreams\u201d reads a poster for the football team of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/12\/what-to-know-about-curacao-at-the-fifa-world-cup-2026\">Caribbean island of Curacao<\/a> \u2013 the smallest country ever, by population, to qualify for football\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Since Curacao clinched qualification with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Steven McClaren\u2019s Jamaica in November, the 160,000 inhabitants of the Dutch island famed for its eponymous sapphire liqueur are riding the crest of the Blue Wave, as the national side is dubbed.<\/p>\n<p>The most famous person around the squad is Curacao\u2019s boss Dick Advocaat, the 78-year-old former Netherlands, PSV and Rangers manager who guided the Curacaoans to qualification. He is set to become the oldest manager ever at a World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, as a self-governing entity within the Netherlands, the island owes its World Cup squad entirely to its Dutch-based diaspora, the president of Curacao\u2019s football federation, Gilbert Martina, admitted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll the players on the national team play in foreign leagues,\u201d he told AFP.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the best-known player is former Dutch youth international Tahith Chong, now at Championship side Sheffield United. The only team member born on Curacao, Chong moved to the Netherlands at the age of 13.<\/p>\n<p>The 26-year-old winger or attacking midfielder is known for his pace, dribbling and a wicked left foot.<\/p>\n<p>The most famous Curacaoan is probably former Ajax and Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert, who was born to a Surinamese father and a mother from Curacao.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic that the island is in the World Cup,\u201d Kluivert, who coached the Curacaoan side between 2015 and 2016, told AFP.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my day, [football] was not that big on the island, but the players have given Curacao visibility. It\u2019s important for the future, for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jordan\">Jordan<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FIFA world ranking:<\/strong> 63<\/li>\n<li><strong>World Cup fixtures (Group J):<\/strong> Austria (June 16, San Francisco, US), Algeria (June 22, San Francisco, US), Argentina (June 27, Dallas, US)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Player to watch:<\/strong> Musa Al-Taamari<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami has called on \u2060his players to emulate \u2060Morocco\u2019s shock run to the last four of the World Cup in 2022 as they prepare for their first appearance at the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn big competitions, many teams can surprise. My country, Morocco, \u200creached the semifinals in the last World Cup,\u201d Reuters quoted him as saying during a training camp in Antalya, Turkiye in late March. \u201cThat gives us belief.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite their underdog status, the players say they are not going to the World Cup just to make up the numbers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor us, we are not going just for participation,\u201d midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh added. \u201cWe are aiming to go as far \u2060as we can in the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo be honest, sometimes we don\u2019t sleep when we think about it,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s a dream come true for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4574848\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4574848\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/getty_6a06e39834-1778836376.jpg?w=770&#038;resize=770%2C513&#038;quality=80\" alt=\"LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - FEBRUARY 10: Musa Al-Taamari of Jordan battles for possession with Akram Afif of Qatar during the AFC Asian Cup final match between Jordan and Qatar at Lusail Stadium on February 10, 2024 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images)\" fetchpriority=\"low\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4574848\">Jordan\u2019s Musa Al-Taamari, left, in action with Qatar\u2019s Akram Afif during the AFC Asian Cup final in 2024, which Qatar won 3-1 [Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Rennes winger Musa Al-Taamari is probably the team\u2019s standout player \u2013 he was the key creative force as\u00a0Jordan \u2060secured an automatic berth at the World Cup after finishing \u2060second behind South Korea in their Asian qualifying group.<\/p>\n<p>Sellami said the camp in Antalya, which involved games against Costa Rica and Nigeria, was a key stage in building experience before facing elite opposition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe \u200care \u200cpreparing step by step. We\u2019ve played against different football cultures,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are collecting experience and, Inshallah [God willing], we will surprise many people.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"uzbekistan\">Uzbekistan<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FIFA world ranking:<\/strong> 50<\/li>\n<li><strong>World Cup fixtures (Group K):<\/strong> Colombia (June 17, Mexico City, Mexico), Portugal (June 23, Houston, US), DR Congo (June 27, Atlanta, US)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Player to watch:<\/strong> Abdukodir Khusanov<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Uzbekistan FA Vice President Ravshan Irmatov is no stranger to the World Cup, having refereed at three finals, but believes the Central Asian country\u2019s long-awaited qualification is merely the latest step in its football development.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cQualifying for the World Cup has been a dream for 38 million people for 34 years,\u201d Irmatov said. \u201cYou can understand how important it was for the Uzbek nation, we waited so long.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Uzbekistan\u2019s first qualification comes after seven attempts to secure a finals spot since the country was granted FIFA membership in 1994 following the break-up of the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n<p>Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec guided a team built primarily on home-based talent to the cusp of the finals before health issues forced him to stand down, leaving Olympic team coach Timur Kapadze to secure the ticket for the 2026 tournament.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4574842\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4574842\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/getty_6a06e29571-1778836117.jpg?w=770&#038;resize=770%2C513&#038;quality=80\" alt=\"BURNLEY, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Abdukodir Khusanov of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor on April 22, 2026 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey\/Getty Images)\" fetchpriority=\"low\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4574842\">Abdukodir Khusanov became the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League when he joined City last year [File: Alex Livesey\/Getty Images]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Captain Eldor Shomurodov, on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir from Roma, is the country\u2019s top scorer with 44 goals in 90 games and scored 21 Turkish Super League goals this season.<\/p>\n<p>But the team\u2019s best-known player is probably Manchester City\u2019s Abdukodir Khusanov. The 22-year-old centre back has become a key part of the defence this season, well-regarded for his positional play, pace, strength and quiet leadership.<\/p>\n<p>Uzbekistan confirmed their place at the finals with a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in June, and since then, former Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro has taken over as coach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll tell you what I always repeat to my players: for the first time you will play in a World Cup, you have nothing to lose,\u201d\u00a0Cannavaro was quoted as saying by The Mirror newspaper in March.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cApproach every match with maximum calm, enjoy yourselves as much as possible, and if you feel anxiety, let it be positive anxiety.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Football\u2019s world governing body, FIFA, has framed the 2026 World Cup\u2019s expansion from 32 to 48 teams as a watershed moment for inclusivity, opening the door for nations that have never qualified before. Indeed, four teams will be playing at their first World Cup in North America this summer: Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. &#8230; <a title=\"Which teams will make their debut at World Cup 2026?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/which-teams-will-make-their-debut-at-world-cup-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Which teams will make their debut at World Cup 2026?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}