The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the tournament ever staged.
The tournament will accommodate 48 teams for the first time, paving the way for more nations to prove their mettle on the grandest stage in football.
The United Kingdom and Ireland could have five teams at the 2026 World Cup – a feat which has never previously been achieved.
Read on as we assess each team’s chances of qualifying for the tournament, starting with a nation who have plenty to prove under a new manager.
England
England have made a major statement ahead of the 2026 World Cup by appointing former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel as the new boss.
Tuchel will take the reins from Under-21 manager Lee Carsley on January 1, 2025. Former England manager Gareth Southgate stepped down after eight years this summer.
Southgate came agonisingly close to ending England’s 58-year trophy drought when he led the Three Lions to the final of the 2024 European Championship. However, they suffered a gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat against Spain, which led the 54-year-old to step aside.
Tuchel’s appointment hasn’t gone down well across all quarters, but it could be a masterstroke from the Football Association, given the German’s sparkling record in football.
England are rated as 7.50 shots to win the World Cup, and the qualifiers should be a cakewalk for them under Tuchel’s tutelage.
The Republic of Ireland
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s appointment as the Republic of Ireland’s new head coach was also met with scepticism, and he has struggled to prove doubters wrong.
The former Iceland manager was seen as the best candidate to rescue Ireland’s slump, but his tenure has not gone according to plan.
The 57-year-old has won just one of his four Nations League games in charge, and his team’s performances have failed to inspire confidence.
Hallgrimsson came in with a decent record of steering underdogs to major tournaments, but Ireland’s chances of ending their World Cup exile look like a pipe dream.
The Boys in Green have not qualified for the showpiece since 2002, and their 1001.00 odds of winning the tournament highlight that the best betting sites in Ireland don’t fancy their prospects.
The odds are firmly stacked against Ireland, and the pressure is piling on Hallgrimsson to deliver.
Scotland
Scotland flexed their muscles during the Euro 2024 qualifiers, upsetting the bookmakers’ odds by winning five out of eight games.
However, their form has been nothing short of dreadful since last summer’s showpiece.
Given their strong qualifying display, many people expected the Tartan Army to reach the latter stage of the Euros, but they finished bottom of their group.
They failed to win any of their three Euro 2024 group-stage games (D1, L2), and have carried that woeful form into the Nations League.
Having lost three of their four Nations League group stage games (D1), Steve Clarke’s side have now gone ten games without a win across all competitions.
Scotland has a history of crumbling on the biggest stage, but if their recent form is any indication, they may not even get a chance to fumble at the World Cup.
Wales
Wales were a no-show at Euro 2024, but their impressive form in the Nations League will bolster their hopes of qualifying for consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time in their history.
The Dragons have thrived under Craig Bellamy’s leadership and are still unbeaten after four games (W2, D2), sitting two points behind group leaders Turkey.
Wales still have painful memories of their dismal 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, where they finished rock bottom of Group B.
A spot at the Euros narrowly slipped through their grasp, but not for the lack of trying. They pushed Turkey and Croatia to the limit but ultimately fell short.
They will now switch their attention to the 2026 World Cup and will fancy their chances of booking a spot at the showpiece.
Northern Ireland
It has been nearly four decades since Northern Ireland made their last appearance at the World Cup. They failed to make it past the group stage on that occasion.
Their performance was a far cry from their glory days of 1958 when they reached the World Cup quarter-finals. But that achievement is now a distant memory.
Northern Ireland’s hopes of returning to the biggest stage in world football in 2026 are practically non-existent, considering their awful recent record.
However, the upcoming qualifiers offer them a crucial opportunity to patch up their reputation in international football.
While they lack the firepower and pedigree to compete with football’s elite, they will be eager to prove their mettle and restore pride to the green and white jersey.
