Another significant landmark on the road to FIFA World Cup 26™ will arrive on Sunday with the unveiling of the tournament’s match schedule.

Already, however, qualifying is well under way in three of FIFA’s six confederations, and several teams have made a major early impact.

Here, FIFA.com looks at five of the most notable – and least expected – success stories so far in the AFC, CAF and CONMEBOL preliminary competitions.

Comoros
World Cup pedigree
Les Coelacantes are aiming to qualify for the first time.

۲۰۲۶ outlook
Comoros currently peer down on the likes of Ghana and Mali from the Group I summit after beginning their first-round campaign with back-to-back victories.

This archipelagic nation had never made an impression in World Cup qualifying before kicking off their 2026 bid with a 4-2 win over Central African Republic in November. Even better was to follow three days later, with the mighty Black Stars – World Cup veterans and four-time African champions – brought crashing to earth thanks to Myziane Maolida’s solitary, match-winning goal.

While the odds remain stacked against Les Coelacantes going all the way to the global finals, the world’s 119th-ranked nation have given themselves a fighting chance.

Quote
“Qualifying for the World Cup is something we’re preparing for in the future… It’s a long term project. But of course, when we’re still there after five, six, seven games, I’ll start to believe!”
Stefano Cusin, Comoros coach

Stat
۰ – Comoros had never recorded a single win in World Cup qualifying before those November fixtures yielded two victories in the spaces of three days.

Ecuador
World Cup pedigree
La Tri have qualified for four previous World Cups, including the most recent edition in Qatar. Their best performance came in 2006, when they beat Poland and Costa Rica to reach the Round of 16.

۲۰۲۶ outlook
Deducted three points before a ball was kicked, Ecuador began the 2026 qualifiers at a significant disadvantage. Fast forward six matches, however, and Felix Sanchez’s team are comfortably ensconced in the automatic qualification spots – one point above Brazil.

Wins over Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile have taken La Tri to that lofty position of fifth, and left the team well placed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups for just the second time.

Quote
“I have a lot of belief in this generation of players. They’re young but they have the experience of the World Cup in Qatar. They’re very hungry. They were very close to getting out of the group in Qatar and our target will be to get out of the group [in 2026]. That would be a big step.”
Felix Sanchez, Ecuador coach

Stat
۹ – Ecuador are unbeaten in their last nine home World Cup qualifiers and have kept six clean sheets during that sequence.

Malaysia
World Cup pedigree
The Southeast Asians are aiming to qualify for the first time.

۲۰۲۶ outlook
While the other AFC second-round sections are all led by traditional heavyweights such as Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia, Malaysia stand apart as the unexpected pace-setters in Group D. They boast the section’s only unblemished record, in fact, after hard-fought victories over Kyrgyz Republic (4-3) and Chinese Taipei (1-0) in November.

Oman, who are ranked 74th – ۵۶ places above the Malaysians – and will need to be faced twice in March, remain favourites to top the group. Kim Pangon’s team have, though, earned the right to dream.

Quote
“If we can make it to the third round of World Cup qualifying, that would bring a lot of joy to the Malaysian people. I want to make big strides in terms of football development.”
Kim Pangon, Malaysia coach

Stat
۵ – Malaysia have now won five of their last seven World Cup qualifying matches.

Rwanda
World Cup pedigree
The Amavumbi are aiming to qualify for the first time as an independent nation.

۲۰۲۶ outlook
With Nigeria and South Africa among the contenders in Group C, no-one expected Rwanda to be leading the way.

That, however, is the unlikely situation after two matches that ended with Torsten Spittler’s side boasting the section’s only 100 per cent record, and with two clean sheets already to their name.

The team’s opening match, a goalless draw with Zimbabwe, didn’t exactly hint at an unlikely World Cup challenge. But when they followed that up with a stunning 2-0 victory over the South Africans, excitement among their fans about Rwanda’s prospects reached new levels.

Quote
“Understandably, our two recent results – particularly the victory over South Africa –sparked euphoria across the country, especially given their long wait for a win before that. In fact, I’ve heard people saying, ‘Now we’ll qualify for the World Cup’. While this might not be entirely realistic in the cold light of day, dreams give you something to build on and it’s important to follow them.”
Torsten Spittler, Rwanda coach

Stat
۴ – Before beating South Africa, Rwanda hadn’t won a World Cup qualifying match in over four years. Their last success, a 7-0 victory over the Seychelles, had come in September 2019.

Venezuela
World Cup pedigree
La Vinotinto are aiming to qualify for the first time.

۲۰۲۶ outlook
Could the only South American team never to have reached a World Cup be on the verge of shedding that hated claim to infamy?

Venezuela certainly look to be well placed after winning two and drawing three of their last five qualifiers. That run, which has included victories over Paraguay (1-0) and Chile (3-0), has taken them up to fourth in the South American standings and increased expectations of an end to that long, agonising wait.

Quote
“Sometimes Venezuela’s great rival is Venezuela itself. We have had to show belief, be competitive, and play as equals, while also taking the necessary precautions that each game requires. Today we are doing well, but we are keeping our feet on the ground, because we are only 30 or 40 per cent through [the qualifying campaign]. This start is exciting though. All the Venezuelan people are happy.”
Fernando Batista, Venezuela coach

Stat
۵ – Venezuela have strung together a five-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying for just the second time. The one and only previous such sequence came in 2009.