A super-sized World Cup has paved the way for tiny Curaçao and Cape Verde to book their places at sport's biggest global event next year.

T he 2026 World Cup is getting closer and while the draw for the upcoming summer tournament will take place on Dec. 5 in Washington D.C., some of the teams are yet to clinch a spo

Brazil, who have won the World Cup in both the United States and Mexico previously, have seldom failed to escape the group stage at prior tournaments, and they will be eager to reserve their energy for the knockout phase in 2026.

European qualifying for the 2026 World Cup has concluded with Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland and Austria securing the region’s remaining automatic spots

Curaçao has made history by becoming the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup, while Andre Blake's Jamaica must play the final round of intercontinental playoffs.

The decision to expand the field for next summer’s tournament to 48 teams has opened the door to a cast of unlikely entrants, including Uzbekistan, Curaçao—and Scotland.

The side coached by Ronald Koeman have a talented roster but lack results in the most recent editions of the World Cup. Players like Xavi Simons or Denzel Dumfries can help them to step up after losing to England in the semifinals of the 2024 UEFA Euro.

Pro Soccer Wire's Seth Vertelney breaks down the current state of the USMNT after a solid finish to an up and down 2025.