FIFA's decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026 will give more nations the opportunity to make their debuts on the game's biggest stage.
FIFA is yet to reveal how the 16 extra qualification places will be allocated, but e ach continent is set to benefit from them, with Africa and Asia in particular expecting a significant increase on their current opportunities.
Based on the current FIFA rankings, Press Association Sport picks out one team from each continent who could be in line to benefit most from the finals' impending new format:
ICELAND: FIFA president Gianni Infantino cited Iceland's stunning performance at Euro 2016 as a good reason to make more World Cup places available. The closest they came to reaching the finals was in 2014, when they finished second in Group D but lost a two-legged qualification play-off against Croatia. Currently ranked 12th in Europe, Iceland are one of the nations who stand to benefit most.
BURKINA FASO: The Stallions may not have reached a World Cup finals, but they came agonisingly close in 2014 when they lost a play-off against Algeria on away goals - with the Algerians going on to push Germany to extra-time in the last 16. Currently ranked the seventh best team in Africa, they reached the final of the 2013 African Nations Cup.
UZBEKISTAN: Having played their first match in 1992 following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan advanced quickly, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the 2006 finals after a controversial loss to Bahrain, and reaching the fourth round of Asian qualifying in both 2010 and 2014. Continuing their climb up the ranks, they are currently ranked fifth best on their continent.
PANAMA: Panama came close to advancing to a qualifying play-off against New Zealand in 2014 before two stoppage time goals by the United States saw them eliminated from the final round of CONCACAF qualifying. As well as consistently reaching the final group stage, Panama have also finished runners-up in both the 2005 and 2013 Gold Cups.
VENEZUELA: The perennial whipping boys of South American football, Venezuela are the only one of the major nations on their continent never to have qualified for a World Cup finals, but they have shown signs of stirring, finishing fourth at the 2011 Copa America and reaching the quarter-finals in 2016.
TAHITI: Tahiti stand to benefit most from any increase in Oceania's World Cup finals opportunities, having clearly established themselves as the continent's third best team behind Australia - who currently play in Asian qualifying - and New Zealand. Winners of the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, they subsequently competed at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Source: PA
