CAF has rallied behind DR Congo as the Leopards gear up for their historic return to the FIFA World Cup after 52 years, facing Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.

With a new format featuring 48 teams, there is more space for new stories to emerge, surprises to unfold, and dark horses to make their mark. | ITV National News

Serbia are one of the countries that are not participating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 participating nations for the first time, yet several countries with rich soccer traditions are absent from the tournament.

Exemptions exist for players and officials, but critics warn that travel bans, visa hurdles and border discretion could limit participation and test the credentials of US as a host of global sporting events.

The seven best-ranked round 2 play-off winners according to the 2026 Women's European Qualifiers overall league rankings will qualify directly for the 2027 Women's World Cup. The one remaining round 2 play-off winner will qualify for the Women's World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will distribute a record $871 million to participating nations. But the biggest financial story isn't the $50 million winner's cheque, it's how qualification alone could transform the finances of football federations across the world.