Powerhouses FIFA #1–6
1
🇦🇷
Argentina
GRP J
Champions 1978, 1986, 2022
2
🇪🇸
Spain
GRP H
Champions 2010
3
🇫🇷
France
GRP I
Champions 1998, 2018
4
🏴
England
GRP L
Champions 1966
5
🇵🇹
Portugal
GRP K
Semi-finals 1966, 2006
6
🇧🇷
Brazil
GRP C
Champions ×5
Contenders FIFA #7–15
7
🇳🇱
Netherlands
GRP F
Runner-up 1974, 1978, 2010
8
🇲🇦
Morocco
GRP C
Semi-finals 2022
9
🇧🇪
Belgium
GRP G
Semi-finals 2018
10
🇩🇪
Germany
GRP E
Champions 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
11
🇭🇷
Croatia
GRP L
Runner-up 2018
12
🇮🇹
Italy
Champions ×4
✗ Didn't qualify
▸
Italy have won the World Cup four times — but they lost a heartbreaking playoff to Bosnia, drawing 1–1 and then falling 4–1 on penalties. It's the third World Cup in a row they've missed, something that's never happened to a former champion before.
Read the full story →13
🇨🇴
Colombia
GRP K
Quarters 2014
14
🇸🇳
Senegal
GRP I
Quarters 2002
15
🇲🇽
Mexico
GRP A
Quarters 1970, 1986
16
🇺🇸
United States ⭐
GRP D
Host nation
Dark Horses FIFA #17–44
17
🇺🇾
Uruguay
GRP H
Champions 1930, 1950
18
🇯🇵
Japan
GRP F
R16 four times
19
🇨🇭
Switzerland
GRP B
Quarters 1934, 1938, 1954
20
🇩🇰
Denmark
Quarters 1998
✗ Didn't qualify
▸
So close! Denmark reached the final qualifying playoff but lost to Czechia on penalties after a 2–2 draw — star striker Rasmus Højlund was one of those who missed his spot-kick. It ends their run of two straight World Cups.
Read the full story →23
🇦🇹
Austria
GRP J
3rd place 1954
25
🇰🇷
South Korea
GRP A
Semi-finals 2002
26
🇦🇺
Australia
GRP D
R16 2006, 2022
27
🇳🇬
Nigeria
R16 ×3
✗ Didn't qualify
▸
Nigeria's famous Super Eagles finished just behind South Africa in their group, then lost the African playoff final to DR Congo on penalties. They're the highest-ranked African team to miss out — and it's their second World Cup in a row watching from home.
Read the full story →30
🇨🇦
Canada
GRP B
Host nation
32
🇺🇦
Ukraine
Quarters 2006
✗ Didn't qualify
▸
Ukraine finished behind France in their group and then lost 3–1 to Sweden in the playoffs. They're still chasing their very first World Cup since way back in 2006.
Read the full story →33
🇨🇮
Ivory Coast
GRP E
Group stage
37
🇵🇱
Poland
3rd place ×2
✗ Didn't qualify
▸
Poland beat Albania in the playoffs but lost the final 3–2 to Sweden, with the winner coming in the 88th minute. It means superstar Robert Lewandowski — one of the best strikers in the world — will miss the World Cup.
Read the full story →39
🇸🇪
Sweden
GRP F
Runner-up 1958
40
🇹🇳
Tunisia
GRP F
Group stage
41
🇨🇿
Czechia
GRP A
Runner-up 1934, 1962
42
🇹🇷
Turkey
GRP D
3rd place 2002
44
🇳🇴
Norway
GRP I
R16 1994, 1998
Underdogs FIFA #47–65
47
🏴
Scotland
GRP C
Group stage
51
🇨🇩
DR Congo
GRP K
Group stage 1974
52
🇧🇦
Bosnia & Herz.
GRP B
Group stage 2014
53
🇵🇦
Panama
GRP L
Group stage 2018
57
🇸🇦
Saudi Arabia
GRP H
R16 1994
60
🇿🇦
South Africa
GRP A
Group stage
61
🇮🇶
Iraq
GRP I
Group stage 1986
62
🇺🇿
Uzbekistan ★
DEBUT
GRP K
First appearance!
64
🇵🇾
Paraguay
GRP D
Quarters 2010
65
🇬🇭
Ghana
GRP L
Quarters 2010
Giant Killers — Watch Out! FIFA #68–95
68
🇶🇦
Qatar
GRP B
Group stage 2022
70
🇨🇻
Cape Verde ★
DEBUT
GRP H
First appearance!
81
🇨🇼
Curaçao ★
DEBUT
GRP E
First appearance!
83
🇭🇹
Haiti
GRP C
Group stage 1974
88
🇯🇴
Jordan ★
DEBUT
GRP J
First appearance!
95
🇳🇿
New Zealand
GRP G
Group stage
First-ever World Cup appearance
★ = debut nation · ⭐ = host