First team eliminated from 2026 World Cup, 969 days before tournament gets underway

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is already on, with just 968 days away until the next footballing showpiece.

The next tournament will be held across three countries - the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It will also make further history as the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, in a new expanded format from the usual 32.

Proceedings will happen in June and July as opposed the shift to a winter World Cup last time out in Qatar.

We're still three years away and most continents are nowhere near starting the qualification process.

However, one nation have already failed to qualify for the tournament.

Asia have began the qualifying stage with a two-legged game and typically the smaller nations take part.

Afghanistan and Mongolia locked horns, while Nepal met Laos.

Guam, a US Island territory with a population of just 18,000, were drawn against Singapore.

Image: Getty

They are ranked 201st in the world, 44 places behind their opponents, and have been the first team to be eliminated from the next World Cup.

They were beaten home and away by Singapore, losing 3-1 on aggregate. A 1-0 victory in the second leg confirmed their fate, while they also had Dane Jacob Augustin sent off in stoppage time to make matters worse.

Guam weren't expected to do the business, having lost 7-0 to China, 3-0 to Syria and 3-0 to the Philippines in the qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup.

Image: Getty

However, they did achieve an almighty result back in 2015 when they beat Turkmenistan 1-0.

39-year-old Jason Cunliffe is the country's captain and record goalscorer. Capped over 50 times, he was on target in the Singapore defeat and notched his 26th goal for Guam.

Guam must now regroup and go again for the 2030 World Cup, which will be held in six different countries across three continents.

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Topics: Football World Cup

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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