Puerto Rico’s Path to the 2026 World Cup: Are Their Chances Real?

Puerto Rico is on the quest to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and with the new expanded format, their chances may be more realistic than ever. While the road is tough, the team’s improvement over recent years offers some hope. However, they face stiff competition from stronger teams in the CONCACAF region.

With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams, the CONCACAF region now has 6.5 qualification spots, which increases opportunities for smaller nations like Puerto Rico. Despite this, they will have to navigate through a challenging qualification process against powerhouses like Mexico, the United States, and Canada, along with competitive teams from the Caribbean and Central America.

What’s Next?

The next phase of qualification will test Puerto Rico’s resilience, as they aim to compete against regional rivals. To make it to the World Cup, they will need to improve both defensively and offensively, as well as build momentum in the early rounds of qualification.

Will Puerto Rico be the underdog story of the 2026 World Cup? The road is long, but the expanded qualification format keeps their dream alive.