The biggest stage in soccer is finally here, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicking off on Thursday, June 11. This year, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the tournament, which features the largest field of all time.
For the first time in history, the World Cup will feature 48 nations from across the world.
With 48 teams, it will already be hard enough to remember every participating country, but if you’re one for nicknames, we’re here to help you out. Every national soccer team has an official nickname, from “Socceroos” to “The Desert Warriors” and “Lions de la Téranga (The Lions of Teranga).”
MORE: 2026 FIFA World Cup TV schedule, full list of games
The United States is appropriately nicknamed “The Stars and Stripes,” while Mexico’s “El Tri” moniker stems from its iconic uniforms, and Canada is known as “Les Rouges (The Reds).”
Get to know the nickname for every team participating in the 2026 World Cup below (list is in alphabetical order).
MORE: 7 defining moments in USA Men’s World Cup history
2026 FIFA World Cup Team Nicknames
- Algeria: The Desert Warriors, The Greens, The Fennecs
- Argentina: La Selección (The Selection), La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue)
- Australia: Socceroos
- Austria: Das Team (The Team), Burschen (The Boys), Unsere Burschen (Our Boys)
- Belgium: De Rode Duivels (The Red Devils)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Zmajevi (The Dragons), Zlatni Ljiljani (Golden Lilies)
- Brazil: Seleção (The Selection), Canarinho (Little Canary)
- Canada: Les Rouges (The Reds), The Canucks
- Cabo Verde: Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks)
- Colombia: La Tricolor (The Tricolour)
- Côte d’Ivoire: Les Éléphants (The Elephants)
- Croatia: Vatreni (Blazers)
- Curaçao: The Blue Wave
- Czechia: Nároďák (The National Team), Repre (The Representatives)
- Democratic Republic of Congo: Léopards (Leopards)
- Ecuador: La Tri (The Tri), La Tricolor (The Tricolours)
- Egypt: The Pharaohs
- England: Three Lions
- France: Les Bleus (The Blues)
- Germany: Die Mannschaft (The Team)
- Ghana: Black Stars
- Haiti: (Les Grenadiers) The Grenadiers, Le Rouge et Bleu (The Red and Blue)
- Islamic Republic of Iran: Team Melli
- Iraq: Usood al-Rafidayn (Lions of Mesopotamia)
- Japan: Samurai Blue
- Jordan: The Chivalrous Ones
- Mexico: El Tri, El Tricolor (The Tricolour)
- Morocco: The Atlas Lions
- Netherlands: Oranje (Orange)
- New Zealand: All Whites
- Norway: Røde, Hvite, Blå (Red, White and Blue)
- Panama: Los Canaleros (The Canal Men)
- Paraguay: La Albirroja (The White and Red)
- Portugal: Seleção das Quinas (The Team of the Shields)
- Qatar: The Maroons
- Republic of Korea: Taegeuk Warriors, Tigers of Asia
- Saudi Arabia: The Green Falcons
- Scotland: The Tartan Army
- Senegal: Lions de la Téranga (The Lions of Teranga)
- South Africa: Bafana Bafana
- Spain: La Roja (The Red One)
- Sweden: Blågult (The Blue-Yellow)
- Switzerland: Schweizer Nati (The National Team)
- Tunisia: Eagles of Carthage
- Türkiye: The Crescent-Stars
- United States of America: The Stars and Stripes
- Uruguay: La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
- Uzbekistan: White Wolves
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