Oceania's automatic World Cup spot confirmed

The All Whites celebrate Rory Fallon's goal during their 1-0 win over Bahrain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer qualifier. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Oceania will have a direct spot to the FIFA World Cup from 2026, FIFA has confirmed.

The FIFA council voted today that Europe will have 16 slots at the 48-team World Cup from 2026 onwards, up from 13, and the five other confederations of the ruling body FIFA will also see increases.

FIFA said the council ratified a proposal from a few weeks ago after an earlier decision to raise the number of participating teams from 32 to 48.

FIFA also confirmed that the final two berths will be determined in a six-team intercontinental mini tournament in late 2025 in the World Cup host nation.

Europe leads the way with 16 slots, while Africa had the biggest gain, from five to nine slots. Asia will have eight, North, central America and the Caribbean six just as South America, and Oceania one.

"This has been signposted for a while but it's the right decision," Football New Zealand CEO Andy Martin told the Radio Sport Breakfast.

"Having all the federations represented at the World Cup is absolutely the right place to be."

"It potentially makes the route to the World Cup less onerous. We know this year we could be shooting out against someone like Argentina, so this way gives us a more fighting chance. We've just got to make sure we do our own thing, we're in the best place possible, the best shape and competitive when these things come around," Martin added.