Who’s in the 2026 World Cup Play-Offs

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup expanding to 48 teams, six nations have secured spots in the play-offs for the final tournament.

Of them, four European teams will qualify via continental play-offs, while two others will advance through intercontinental play-offs.

European Play-Offs (4 spots): Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Ireland, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, Wales, Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia.

The 16 teams—12 group runners-up plus 4 UEFA Nations League group winners—will be split into four paths, each featuring two semifinals and one final (single match). Semifinals will be held on March 26, 2025 and finals likely on March 31, 2025. Winners of the four finals will qualify for the World Cup 2026.

Intercontinental Play-Offs (2 spots): Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Suriname.

Top-seeded Iraq and DR Congo advance directly to the finals; the remaining four will play semifinals to face them. Two winners will secure World Cup berths. Schedule for these matches are pending.