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FIFA World Cup 2026: The best pictures from the latest qualified teams
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at some of the best photos from the nations that confirmed their qualification on Wednesday for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Kano To Host 11th World Nutritious Food Fair
The Kano State Government has announced that preparations are in top gear to host the 11th edition of the World Nutritious Food Fair, an annual event that brings together key players in Nigeria’s nutrition and food security sectors.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Musa Shanono, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano on Monday. He revealed that the fair will attract over 100 commercial exhibitors and more than 2,000 participants, including government officials, policymakers, researchers, and private sector stakeholders.
“This event serves as a strategic platform for collective engagement, learning, and networking among stakeholders in Nigeria’s nutritious food sector,” Shanono said. “We are proud that Kano has been chosen once again as the host, as it reflects our government’s ongoing commitment to addressing food and nutrition security.”
According to the Commissioner, the Nutritious Food Fair is not just an exhibition but a vital opportunity to tackle pressing challenges in the sector, such as malnutrition, food processing inefficiencies, and policy gaps.
“The fair brings together a wide range of actors—from farmers and food processors to academics and development partners—to showcase innovations, share knowledge, and discuss emerging issues that affect nutrition in Nigeria,” he added.
Shanono emphasized that the event aligns with the state’s broader development agenda, particularly its focus on improving public health outcomes through better nutrition.
“We are expecting groundbreaking conversations and collaborations that can lead to scalable solutions, particularly in addressing the burden of malnutrition, which continues to affect millions across the country,” he said.
The Commissioner also urged local businesses and agricultural entrepreneurs in the state to take advantage of the opportunity to network and learn from national and international participants.
Who are the latest teams to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Qatar are the headline news in the latest group of confirmed entrants for next year’s FIFA 2026 World Cup following the most recent round of qualifying matches.
The hosts of the 2022 edition of the global showpiece event reached the finals for the first time through the qualification route, when they beat the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
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South Africa also clinched a tight group, with fellow African giants Nigeria pushed to the playoffs, on a tense final day of group stage qualifiers on the continent. This came a day after Cape Verde’s first qualification for the World Cup finals.
The European teams still have some way to go to finish their qualifying groups, but the picture has become far clearer with some progress already made.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a close look at how the qualifying process stands around the globe:
Which teams are in the FIFA World Cup 2026?
After the latest round of qualifying matches, here is a breakdown of the confirmed contenders from each of the six regions:
Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Europe: England
Oceania: New Zealand
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Who can still qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Africa: Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Nigeria will play off for the final intercontinental spot from the continent. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to announce the dates for those matches.
Asia: The UAE and Iraq will vie for one intercontinental playoffs spot when they compete over two legs in the final stage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers in November.
Europe: 53 of the 54 European teams vying for 16 qualification spots can still confirm their berths, alongside England, as their first-round matches will run until November 18.
North, Central America and the Caribbean: With the World Cup host nations taking three spots, only three are left up for grabs. They will be decided on November 18. Bermuda, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago have all advanced to the third round. The three second-placed teams from each group will then fight for the intercontinental playoffs spot.
Oceania: New Caledonia have qualified for the intercontinental playoffs.
South America: Bolivia have qualified for the intercontinental playoffs, having missed out on one of the six automatic qualifying positions.
28/48 ✅@Aramco | #WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/eaksBnrBYM
Which major teams have been eliminated from qualification?
Peru and Chile, who were third-place finishers in 1962, were the biggest names to miss out from the South America qualifiers, where Venezuela were also eliminated.
Although not considered a powerhouse in Asia, China will be disappointed not to reach their first finals since 2002.
Angola, Libya, Mali and Namibia will be among those disappointed to be eliminated from the African qualification.
Indonesia were hoping to reach only a second World Cup, and made a valiant run to the fourth round of AFC qualification. But they will be disappointed not to have gone one step further following their Dutch recruitment drive, which included their coach, Patrick Kluivert.
Bahrain, who topped their 2023 AFC Asian Cup group stage ahead of South Korea, only to be eliminated by Japan in the round of 16, will be deflated to have missed out on the chance to showcase their skills on the global stage. Palestine were only seconds away from reaching the fourth round of the AFC qualifier and, following their historic run to the knockout stage of the last Asian Cup, will also be disappointed not to have at least gone one step further in their continental qualifiers.
When will all the teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 be confirmed?
European qualification rounds stretch beyond the current group stages to March, while the intercontinental playoff final is scheduled for the same month, so the final 48 teams for the World Cup will not be known until less than three months before the tournament. March 31, 2026, is when all qualification will come to an end.
When and where is the draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The World Cup draw, as revealed by US President Donald Trump in August, will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
“It’s the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports, I guess,” said Trump, who made the announcement in an Oval Office event where he was joined by Vice President JD Vance and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Trump also did not rule out overseeing the draw himself.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 scheduled?
US, China roll out port fees, threatening more trade turmoil
The United States and China have started charging additional port fees on ocean shipping firms that move everything from holiday toys to crude oil, making the high seas a key front in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
A return to an all-out trade war appeared imminent last week, after China announced a major expansion of its rare earths export controls, and US President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to triple digits.
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But after the weekend, both sides sought to reassure traders and investors, highlighting cooperation between their negotiating teams and the possibility they could find a way forward.
China said it had started to collect the special charges on US-owned, operated, built or flagged vessels, but it clarified that Chinese-built ships would be exempted from the levies.
In details published by state broadcaster CCTV, China spelled out specific provisions on exemptions, which also include empty ships entering Chinese shipyards for repair.
Similar to the US plan, the new China-imposed fees would be collected at the first port of entry on a single voyage or for the first five voyages within a year.
“This tit-for-tat symmetry locks both economies into a spiral of maritime taxation that risks distorting global freight flows,” Athens-based Xclusiv Shipbrokers said in a research note.
Early this year, the Trump administration announced plans to levy the fees on China-linked ships to loosen the country’s grip on the global maritime industry and bolster US shipbuilding.
An investigation during the administration of former US President Joe Biden concluded that China uses unfair policies and practices to dominate the global maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, clearing the way for those penalties.
China hit back last week, saying it would impose its own port fees on US-linked vessels from the same day the US fees took effect.
“We are in the hectic stage of the disruption, where everyone is quietly trying to improvise workarounds, with varying degrees of success,” said independent dry bulk shipping analyst Ed Finley-Richardson. He said he has heard reports of US shipowners with non-Chinese vessels trying to sell their cargoes to other countries while en route, so the vessels can divert.
The Reuters news agency was not immediately able to confirm this.
Tit-for-tat moves
Analysts expect China-owned container carrier COSCO to be the most affected by the US fees, shouldering nearly half of that segment’s expected $3.2bn cost from the fees in 2026.
Major container lines, including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM, slashed their exposure by switching China-linked ships out of their US shipping lanes. Trade officials there reduced fees from initially proposed levels, and exempted a broad swath of vessels after heavy pushback from the agriculture, energy and US shipping industries.
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
China’s Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday said, “If the US chooses confrontation, China will see it through to the end; if it chooses dialogue, China’s door remains open.”
In a related move, Beijing also imposed sanctions on Tuesday against five US-linked subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean, which it said had “assisted and supported” a US probe into Chinese trade practices.
Hanwha, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, owns Philly Shipyard in the US and has won contracts to repair and overhaul US Navy ships. Its entities will also build a US-flagged LNG carrier.
Hanwha said it is aware of the announcement and is closely monitoring the potential business impact. Hanwha Ocean’s shares sank by nearly 6 percent.
China also launched an investigation into how the US probe affected its shipping and shipbuilding industries.
A Shanghai-based trade consultant said the new fees may not cause significant upheaval.
“What are we going to do? Stop shipping? Trade is already pretty disrupted with the US, but companies are finding a way,” the consultant told Reuters, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the media.
The US announced last Friday a carve-out for long-term charterers of China-operated vessels carrying US ethane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), deferring the port fees for them through December 10.
Meanwhile, ship-tracking company Vortexa identified 45 LPG-carrying VLGCs — an acronym for very large gas carriers, a type of vessel — that would be subject to China’s port fee. That amounts to 11 percent of the total fleet.
Clarksons Research said in a report that China’s new port fees could affect oil tankers accounting for 15 percent of global capacity.
Meanwhile, Omar Nokta, an analyst at the financial firm Jefferies, estimated that 13 percent of crude tankers and 11 percent of container ships in the global fleet would be affected.
Trade war embroils environmental policy
In a reprisal against China curbing exports of critical minerals, Trump on Friday threatened to slap additional 100 percent tariffs on goods from China and put new export controls on “any and all critical software” by November 1.
Administration officials, hours later, warned that countries voting this week in favour of a plan by the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from ocean shipping could face sanctions, port bans, or punitive vessel charges.
China has publicly supported the IMO plan.
Katy Perry asks tear-jerking question to schoolgirl who ‘lost her confidence’
The Mirror went behind-the-scenes at Katy Perry’s London O2 gig where the American singer met Pride of Britain winner Florrie Bark and her group of new friends, all of who have battled cancer
There were tears, hugs and face-aching grins when Katy Perry met Pride of Britain winner Florrie Bark and her new friends for a very special backstage party.
California Girls singer Katy, 40, took time out before her London O2 gig on Monday night to meet Florrie, nine, and eight other children who have been supported by Florrie’s award-winning cancer charity BeMoreFab.
“Are you real?” Katy, who was dressed as a blue robot, asked the children as she popped her head around the door of the green room and made them gasp in shock. “I know I’m real, but are you?”
Walking towards Florrie, Katy addressed her by name and asked the little girl to introduce her to all of her new friends.
Alana Bee, 16, who is recovering from cervical cancer, burst into tears as she met her idol. “Oh my god, I’ve just touched Katy Perry,” she gushed. “Touched me? Girlie-pop, you can hug me!” the singer told her before embracing the teen and telling her that she liked Alana’s makeup.
Later, Alana grinned: “I kissed Katy Perry – and I liked it! When she came in the room I was paralysed, then it hit me she was really there. I just sobbed and was hyperventilating.”
Her mum Vanya said the night out had done Alana the world of good. “She’d lost confidence since having tumours on her thyroid at the age of 14, and then last year being diagnosed with cervical cancer. She hasn’t been at school since Year 9 and when her beautiful long hair fell out she didn’t even want to leave the house.”
But inspired by the wonderful staff who have cared for her, Alana has just started at college and wants to be a pediatric oncology nurse, so she in turn can look after ill children.
Her new-found friend Amelie Flatt, 13 from Hitchen, was just as overwhelmed when Katy approached them. Eighteen months on from a bone marrow transplant to treat the cancer that has cropped up four times from childhood, Amelie is only just transitioning back into ‘normal’ life and returning to school.
She left virtually speechless when the popstar admired her make-up and home-made Fireworks t-shirt.
“I can’t believe I met her,” she beamed afterwards, wiping tears from her eyes. “Her songs bring so many happy memories from when I finally got to see my friends and stuff.
“When she told me my make-up was incredible, that is my biggest flex now. I’m never going to let that go – I need it on a t-shirt! At least I played it cool…”
Amelie added: “Katy said that I was really an amazing, strong person and that I inspire her.
“She promised to sing California Girls extra-loud for us.”
Her mum Sofia said proudly: “Katy was absolutely amazing, she gave them all so much of her time. What a beautiful human. That was such a special moment and Amelie will never, ever forget it.”
Of little Florrie from Corby, who last year won the Pride of Britain Child of Courage award for her indomitable spirit and tireless fundraising to help other children living with cancer, Katy said: “You are a queen. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Florrie is awaiting a lung transplant after complications from her bone marrow transplant, which she had after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia at the age of six.
She launched BeMoreFab with parents Andrew and Stacy, and raised more than £120,000 in just three months, which helps other children living with cancer to access tutors to catch them up with missed school work.
Turning to Andrew and Stacy and hugging them, Katy said: “You have produced a truly incredible human being.”
Katy, mum to Daisy Dove Bloom, five, who she shares with ex Orlando Bloom, spoke to each of the children – Emmy Whitmee, 9, of Rothwell, West Yorks; Ellerie Carroll, 9, of Bradford; Bella Shalgosky, 9, of Corby; Kaiden Edwards, 10, of High Wycombe, Bucks; Darcie Smith, 7, of Belfast and Ada Rumney, 8, of Eastlound near Doncaster.
She then insisted on meeting each of their parents and taking selfies.
And she made the children laugh as she told them they could stay up all night and didn’t have to listen to their mums and dads.
“Do we need them? Yes we do – to bring us stuff,” said Florrie, making the whole room burst into laughter. “They can go to the grocery store?” said Katy. “Yeah – and bring us medicines,” Florrie quipped.
“You know what they can’t do? They can’t tell us to go to bed any time soon,” Katy laughed, shooting a look over at the parents.
“We can stay up for five hours and listen to the music!” cheered Florrie.
Before leaving to get ready for her show, Katy told the children – who handed her a BeMoreFab rainbow friendship bracelet – that she would “never forget” them.
“Stay in the light,” she urged them, hugging them all once again. “You are the light. Hold this moment in your heart forever, OK? And I’ll never, ever forget you.
“I love you so much. You’re the best!”
With a swish of long black hair – into which shimmering strands of silver had been weaved – Katy departed for the stage, leaving the group in raptures.
“It was so nice to see how happy everybody was and some of the girls were crying,” said Florrie.
“Katy knows our names now and she remembered us!”
Bella Shalgosky, nine, was comforted by her best friend Emmy Whitmee – wearing matching pink shimmering outfits – as she sobbed with happiness. Later, the pair watched over the balcony of their VIP box at the O2, screaming out the lyrics as Katy performed all her high-octane greatest hits.
Bella is also from Corby, but she and Florrie had never met before Monday night – despite Andrew being her headteacher before he left to launch BeMoreFab. Florrie, who wore a blanket emblazoned with faces of her family members, said she and Bella will definitely stay in touch. “I’m going to get a Bella blanket!” she smiled.
Sean Reddington, co-CEO of Thrive Learning, who donated the use of the VIP suite so the children could enjoy a truly special night out, was thrilled that Katy had been so kind to them all.
“Florrie is such a special little girl and deserves to be treated, but she in turn wants to make other children happy,” he said. “She wanted to make new friends and give them a little moment of joy – and that’s what makes her so incredible.”
The children and their parents got to watch the entire show from the box, including when Katy appeared to confirm her romance with ex-Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, after photos of them emerged at the weekend canoodling on Katy’s private yacht.
Speaking to a fan in the crowd called Darren who was holding up a sign asking her to marry him, she joked: “Oh my god! You should have asked me 48 hours ago!”
Katy also poked fun at the breakdown of both her former relationships with shamed comedian Russell Brand and actor Orlando Bloom, laughing: “Look at this beautiful crowd. No wonder I fall for Englishmen all the time.”
Her mum Mary was also in attendance with little Daisy, and Katy quipped that she would no longer sing her risque hit Peacock, even though it is Daisy’s “favourite song”.
“Mom doesn’t like it – whoever wrote it should be very ashamed of themselves,” Katy told the crowd. “Yes, I wrote it – there we go. Mom is praying right now… she’s been praying since 2008!”
Up in the box, nine brilliant children partied right until the end of the show, waving glowsticks and swapping phone numbers so they can stay in touch.
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“What a night,” grinned Florrie’s mum Stacy. “They were able to have one day where they weren’t just patients worrying about their next treatment or isolating in hospital. This will stay with us forever.”
READ MORE: Katy Perry breaks silence on romance with Justin Trudeau with cheeky quip on stage in London