, Nov. 17 -- A record 48 teams will take part in the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

On Sunday, Portugal and Norway became the latest sides to secure their spots. Portugal, playing without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, thrashed Armenia 9-1 to keep the 39-year-old on course to feature in a sixth World Cup - an all-time record if he appears. Norway booked their ticket with a 4-1 win over four-time champion Italy.

In total, 43 teams will qualify through their regional competitions, while two more will advance from a six-team intercontinental playoff scheduled for March in Mexico. The three host nations qualify automatically.

Qualification breakdown

Asia: 8 direct places, 1 intercon...