Nations making a return to the World Cup

As the football world looks ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, several nations are set to return to the sport’s biggest stage after long absences, rekindling old rivalries in the process – and drawing interest from fans following up-to-the-minute odds as qualification stories unfold.

The expanded 48-team format for 2026 has opened the door to comebacks that feel just as significant as a trophy run.

Scotland

One of the most talked-about returns is Scotland. The Tartan Army will be heading to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, ending nearly three decades without a place in the tournament. They qualified after a dramatic match that saw Scotland snatch victory against Denmark, with Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean scoring in stoppage time to seal their spot.

By the end of the group stage, Scotland finished top of Group C with 13 points, earned from four wins, one draw and one defeat. The Scots leapfrogged the Danes to the top after the 4-2 victory, securing an automatic qualification spot.

Norway

Another nation making its way back is Norway. They’ve booked their place in North America for the first time since 1998, powered by a strong qualifying run that saw Erling Haaland score 16 times throughout qualifying – more than any other European player. Martin Ødegaard was also the most prolific assist provider in Europe, with seven.

After years of falling short in qualification campaigns, they’ve developed a squad capable of competing consistently. They won every game in the qualification stage, including an 11-1 battering of Moldova, and secured automatic qualification after finishing top of their group.

Austria

Austria booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by topping Group H in the UEFA qualifying tournament, securing direct qualification as group winners. This marks their first World Cup appearance since 1998, ending a 28-year absence.

Austria produced a strong overall record, finishing top of the group with 19 points from six wins, one draw and one loss. That tally came from several key results across the campaign, including convincing wins that helped build momentum.

Haiti

Haiti enjoyed one of the most impressive qualifying campaigns in CONCACAF for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing direct qualification by topping Group C – a huge achievement for a nation making only its second-ever World Cup appearance. Their only previous finals participation was at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, meaning they returned to football’s biggest stage after 52 years.

Haiti’s run through qualifying was competitive and hard-fought. They navigated the early rounds of CONCACAF qualification by finishing second in their initial group, which was enough to progress to the decisive stage. In the final round of qualifying, Haiti faced established regional opponents including Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Paraguay

Paraguay will be returning to the FIFA World Cup after a 16-year absence, having last featured in the finals at South Africa 2010, where they reached the quarter-finals. They qualified for the 2026 tournament with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador in CONMEBOL qualifying, earning enough points to finish in the top six of the South American standings and secure a direct spot in the expanded finals.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2014 with a strong qualifying campaign in CAF Group F, finishing top of the group and booking direct qualification to the expanded tournament. They sealed their spot with a 3-0 win over Kenya in their final group match in October 2025, with goals from Franck Kessie, Yan Diomande and Amad Diallo.

Categorised in: Premier League Blog

This post was written by Powered by thefootballforum.net