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How have debutant nations performed in the FIFA World Cup over the years?

Four new countries are set to make their first-ever appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. This edition will feature the highest number of debutants since 2006. Each of these sides will aim to end the 16-year wait for a first-time participant to reach the knockout stage.

With their inclusion, the total number of nations to have featured in the World Cup will rise to 84. Among them, there have been some remarkable debut performances. Technically, Uruguay and Italy remain the standout newcomers in tournament history, both clinching the trophy in their maiden appearances in 1930 and 1934 respectively. Following them were Argentina (1930) and Czechoslovakia (1934), who each finished as runners-up in their debut years.

However, since those early tournaments were dominated by debuting sides, it’s more telling to look at performances in later years. So, which new teams have shone since?

The 1958 World Cup stands out as one of the best for first-timers, with all three debutants — Northern Ireland, the Soviet Union and Wales — progressing to the quarter-finals. Likewise, in 1966, both North Korea and Portugal advanced beyond the group stage, setting a 100 percent success rate for newcomers that year. Portugal went on to reach the semi-finals, eventually losing 2-1 to eventual champions England.

Since 1934, reaching the semi-finals has remained the best achievement for debutants, with Portugal among the few to have managed that feat. Several others have come close, as three nations have reached the quarter-finals on debut since 1994.

For the teams making their debut this summer, simply qualifying for the knockout rounds would be considered a strong showing — the last debutant to do so was Slovakia in 2010, who famously defeated defending champions Italy to eliminate them in the group stage. Could Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan or Uzbekistan repeat that success?

Here’s a detailed look at how all 84 nations have fared in their first World Cup appearances:

Uruguay
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Champions

Argentina
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Runners-up

Belgium
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

Bolivia
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

Brazil
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

Chile
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

France
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

Mexico
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

Paraguay
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

Peru
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

Romania
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Group stage

USA
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Semi-final

Yugoslavia (now Serbia)
Year of debut: 1930
Performance: Semi-final

Italy
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Champions

Czechoslovakia (now Czechia)
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Runners-up

Germany
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Third place

Austria
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Fourth place

Egypt
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Round of 16

Switzerland
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Quarter-final

Hungary
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Quarter-final

Netherlands
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Round of 16

Spain
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Quarter-final

Sweden
Year of debut: 1934
Performance: Quarter-final

Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia)
Year of debut: 1938
Performance: Round of 16

Norway
Year of debut: 1938
Performance: Round of 16

Poland
Year of debut: 1938
Performance: Round of 16

Cuba
Year of debut: 1938
Performance: Quarter-final

England
Year of debut: 1950
Performance: First round

South Korea
Year of debut: 1954
Performance: Group stage

Scotland
Year of debut: 1954
Performance: Group stage

Turkey
Year of debut: 1954
Performance: Group stage

Northern Ireland
Year of debut: 1958
Performance: Quarter-final

Soviet Union (now Russia)
Year of debut: 1958
Performance: Quarter-final

Wales
Year of debut: 1958
Performance: Quarter-final

Bulgaria
Year of debut: 1962
Performance: Group stage

Colombia
Year of debut: 1962
Performance: Group stage

Portugal
Year of debut: 1966
Performance: Quarter-final

North Korea
Year of debut: 1966
Performance: Quarter-final

El Salvador
Year of debut: 1970
Performance: Group stage

Morocco
Year of debut: 1970
Performance: Group stage

Israel
Year of debut: 1970
Performance: Group stage

Australia
Year of debut: 1974
Performance: Group stage

Haiti
Year of debut: 1974
Performance: Group stage

Zaire (now DR Congo)
Year of debut: 1974
Performance: Group stage

East Germany
Year of debut: 1974
Performance: Second round (Quarter-final)

Iran
Year of debut: 1978
Performance: Group stage

Tunisia
Year of debut: 1978
Performance: Group stage

Algeria
Year of debut: 1982
Performance: Group stage

Cameroon
Year of debut: 1982
Performance: Group stage

Honduras
Year of debut: 1982
Performance: Group stage

Kuwait
Year of debut: 1982
Performance: Group stage

New Zealand
Year of debut: 1982
Performance: Group stage

Canada
Year of debut: 1986
Performance: Group stage

Denmark
Year of debut: 1986
Performance: Round of 16

Iraq
Year of debut: 1986
Performance: Group stage

United Arab Emirates
Year of debut: 1990
Performance: Group stage

Costa Rica
Year of debut: 1990
Performance: Round of 16

Republic of Ireland
Year of debut: 1990
Performance: Quarter-final

Greece
Year of debut: 1994
Performance: Group stage

Nigeria
Year of debut: 1994
Performance: Round of 16

Saudi Arabia
Year of debut: 1994
Performance: Round of 16

Jamaica
Year of debut: 1998
Performance: Group stage

Japan
Year of debut: 1998
Performance: Group stage

South Africa
Year of debut: 1998
Performance: Group stage

Croatia
Year of debut: 1998
Performance: Semi-final

China
Year of debut: 2002
Performance: Group stage

Ecuador
Year of debut: 2002
Performance: Group stage

Slovenia
Year of debut: 2002
Performance: Group stage

Senegal
Year of debut: 2002
Performance: Quarter-final

Angola
Year of debut: 2006
Performance: Group stage

Ivory Coast
Year of debut: 2006
Performance: Group stage

Togo
Year of debut: 2006
Performance: Group stage

Trinidad and Tobago
Year of debut: 2006
Performance: Group stage

Ghana
Year of debut: 2006
Performance: Round of 16

Ukraine
Year of debut: 2006
Performance: Quarter-final

Slovakia
Year of debut: 2010
Performance: Round of 16

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Year of debut: 2014
Performance: Group stage

Iceland
Year of debut: 2018
Performance: Group stage

Panama
Year of debut: 2018
Performance: Group stage

Qatar
Year of debut: 2022
Performance: Group stage

Curacao
Year of debut: 2026
Performance: TBC

Cape Verde
Year of debut: 2026
Performance: TBC

Jordan
Year of debut: 2026
Performance: TBC

Uzbekistan
Year of debut: 2026
Performance: TBC

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