A Roaring Debut for 3 Nations at the Historic 2026 FIFA World Cup

Get to know the three rising nations preparing to make their FIFA World Cup debut for the first time in history at the 2026 World Cup — a tournament featuring a brand-new format and structure. One of the biggest changes includes expanding the number of participating teams from 32 to 48, giving the world a chance to witness teams like Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde reach the final stage. But how strong are they really? Did they reach the big stage thanks to skill — or simply luck? In this article, V9Bet takes all football fans on a journey to uncover the answers.

3 Nations Making History with Their First-Ever World Cup Appearance

Throughout history, several nations have made their first World Cup appearances — from Cuba and Indonesia in 1938, Israel in 1970, DR Congo and Haiti in 1974, Kuwait in 1982, Iraq in 1986, UAE in 1990, Jamaica in 1998, China in 2002, Angola, Togo, Ukraine, and Trinidad & Tobago in 2006, Slovakia in 2010, Bosnia in 2014, to Iceland and Panama in 2018. The 2026 World Cup marks the first time in 12 years that new nations will join the finals: Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde.

Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde – Their Road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Even though the number of qualified nations has increased from 32 to 48, earning a ticket to the World Cup is still far from easy. Competition remains fierce as every country fights for a historic debut. Below is the qualification journey of the three newcomers — Cape Verde from Africa, and Uzbekistan and Jordan from Asia.

Uzbekistan: The Rising Power of Central Asia Ready to Make History

Uzbekistan’s best achievements include winning gold at the 1994 Asian Games and finishing fourth in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Under the guidance of Srečko Katanec, later succeeded by interim coach Timur Kapadze, the “White Wolves” became one of the most impressive sides in Asian qualifiers. They received a bye in Round 1, finished runners-up in Group E in Round 2, and once again took second place in Group A in Round 3 — securing their historic spot at the 2026 World Cup. They enter the finals under their new head coach, Fabio Cannavaro.

Jordan: The Middle Eastern Dark Horse with Big Dreams

Jordan’s biggest achievement to date is finishing as runners-up in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. That success allowed coach Jamal Sellami to build on the foundations laid by Moroccan compatriot Hussein Ammouta, guiding the “White Knights” to their first-ever World Cup. Their style may not always appear flashy, but they are disciplined, organized, and extremely resilient. After receiving a bye in Round 1, they topped Group G in Round 2 and finished as runners-up in Group B in Round 3.

Cape Verde: Africa’s Surprise Contender Ready to Shock the World

Cape Verde’s best results include reaching the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 and 2023. Under head coach Pedro Leitão Brito — known as Bubista — the “Blue Sharks” have become one of the most dangerous sides in Africa. They topped Group D in qualifying with 7 wins, 2 draws, and just 1 loss — finishing above Cameroon.

Strengths and Playing Styles of the Three Teams

Uzbekistan relies on youth development and modern tactical systems, often switching between 3-4-3 and 4-3-3. Under Fabio Cannavaro, they will likely adopt a 4-2-3-1 system. Key players include Eldor Shomurodov and Abduqodir Khusanov.

Jordan prefers a disciplined counterattacking style using a 3-4-2-1 shape, transitioning to 5-4-1 when defending and 3-4-3 in attack. Key attackers: Musa Al-Taamari, Ali Olwan, Yazan Al-Naimat.

Cape Verde plays possession-based football with fast wingers, overlapping fullbacks, and a strong defensive midfield duo. Key players include Ryan Mendes, Willy Semedo, and Jamiro Monteiro.

Opportunities and Challenges in Their First-Ever World Cup

The 2026 World Cup introduces a new 12-group format. With 48 nations and only 16 eliminated in the group stage, debutants have a real chance to shock the world.

Read more >> World Cup 2026: What's New? Key Format Changes Every Football Fan Should Know

Global Expectations and the Chance to Make History

According to analysts at Inplay Matrix, the three debutants face little pressure but will likely meet difficult opponents early due to their FIFA rankings (Uzbekistan 55, Jordan 66, Cape Verde 71).

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Conclusion

Historically, debutants rarely advance far, with exceptions like Ukraine in 2006 and Slovakia in 2010. But modern football’s tactical evolution may allow Uzbekistan, Jordan, or Cape Verde to deliver unforgettable moments in 2026.