Ukraine may lose its place in the 2026 World Cup: who will be the new participants of the tournament.

Unexpected participants in the World Cup

According to The Sun: Several countries never dreamed of participating in the World Cup, but next summer their representatives will appear on the football arena in the USA, Canada, and Mexico among the giants.

Curaçao, whose population is smaller than Blackburn's, may be one step closer to meeting teams like England, Germany or Brazil. Jordan and Uzbekistan have already secured their spots among the world football elites.

Expansion of the World Cup

When Gianni Infantino talked about expanding the World Cup, he hardly thought about what teams would appear in it.

In 2018, Infantino explained:

“If you allow 16 additional teams to participate, it means not just 16 new countries feeling the World Cup, but also 15 or 16 new countries that can dream.”

This prediction has come true, although it may affect the authority of the biggest football show in the world. But the list of potential newcomers demonstrates why Infantino and FIFA have support in other countries.

In 2026, when the World Cup will again feature 48 teams, Europe will receive only 16 spots, the lowest percentage in history, including since 1930.

At the same time, other continents have gained significant opportunities. Africa has nine spots, Asia has raised its quotas from five to eight, South America has increased by 50% to six, and Oceania has received its first automatic spot.

Unexpected hopes for participation

With three co-hosts, other slots open new opportunities. For example, by Monday evening, two of the three group leaders that have a chance to qualify for the championship are former Dutch colonies: Curaçao and Suriname.

Veteran coach Dick Advocaat, who previously managed the Netherlands, now leads Curaçao, whose captain is 34-year-old former Aston Villa player Leandro Bacuna. A 2-0 victory over the group favorite - Jamaica - has left the small island with a population of 155,000 in anticipation.

Advocaat noted:

“When we started, there were 100 people, now there are 10,000, so it's a big difference.”

Suriname, with a population of 630,000, is also fighting for qualification alongside Panama. In Asia, Jordan and Uzbekistan have already secured their participation in their debut championship.

New names, new faces. Now we can only hope they do not suffer a thrashing next summer.

The next World Cup promises to be special, as it will feature not only football giants but also teams that have succeeded through determination and perseverance. The winner could be unexpected, and the tournament itself will be remembered for unforgettable moments for fans from all over the world.