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Last updated: June 22, 2026
The 2026 World Cup, the first with 48 teams, has already delivered remarkable stories from its four debutant nations. Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan are all playing in their first ever World Cup, and several have made history in the group stage.
Cape Verde, nicknamed the Blue Sharks, earned a historic first World Cup point with a 0-0 draw against Spain’s group rivals and continued to punch above their weight in Group H. For a nation of just over half a million people, simply reaching the tournament was extraordinary, and competing with established sides has made them one of the stories of the World Cup.
Curacao, one of the smallest nations ever to qualify for a World Cup, earned their first ever World Cup point with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on June 20. After a tough 7-1 opening defeat to Germany, the point was a proud moment for the Caribbean side in Group E.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo played their first World Cup since 1974, when the country competed as Zaire. They marked their return with a creditable 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Group K, a result that stunned many neutrals and delighted Congolese fans.
Jordan, in their debut World Cup, pushed Austria hard before falling 3-1 in Group J. Uzbekistan, also debuting, competed in Group K. Both nations represent the expanded tournament’s central promise: giving more countries a genuine stage on the world’s biggest sporting occasion.
The expanded 48-team World Cup was designed precisely to broaden football’s global reach. With 12 groups of four and a new Round of 32, more nations than ever get to test themselves against the elite. The debutants of 2026 show how the format can produce fresh narratives and inspire football development in nations that have never before reached this level.
Every World Cup belongs as much to its underdogs as its favourites. Browse the full 2026 national team jersey collection to find kits from across the 48-team field, and read our guide to how every team qualified.
The success of debutant nations resonates far beyond the tournament. Strong showings inspire investment in grassroots football, youth academies, and infrastructure back home. For Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, every match played on the world stage is a milestone that can transform the sport in their countries for a generation. That is the deeper legacy of the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Four nations are making their first ever World Cup appearance: Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
Yes. Both Cape Verde and Curacao earned historic first World Cup points with draws in the group stage.
52 years. DR Congo’s previous and only World Cup appearance came in 1974, when the country competed as Zaire.