The ongoing March international break is set to determine the remaining qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held this summer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The upcoming edition will mark a historic expansion, featuring 48 national teams for the first time.
So far, 42 teams have secured qualification, leaving six remaining slots to be decided through the European and intercontinental playoffs.
Four places will be awarded via the European playoffs, while two additional spots will be determined through the global playoff system.
European Playoff Format
The European qualifying playoffs for the FIFA World Cup will include 16 teams: the 12 runners-up from the initial qualifying groups, along with the four highest-ranked sides from the 2024–2025 UEFA Nations League that did not qualify directly.
These teams will be divided into four separate paths, each containing four teams. Each path will feature single-leg semifinals followed by a one-match final, with the winner securing a place at the World Cup.
Playoff Fixtures:
Path A:
Italy national football team vs Northern Ireland national football team
Wales national football team vs Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
Path B:
Ukraine national football team vs Sweden national football team
Poland national football team vs Albania national football team
Path C:
Turkey national football team vs Romania national football team
Slovakia national football team vs Kosovo national football team
Path D:
Denmark national football team vs North Macedonia national football team
Czech Republic national football team vs Republic of Ireland national football team
The semifinal matches are scheduled for March 26, with the finals to follow on March 31.
Intercontinental Playoff Format
The intercontinental playoffs will feature six teams, seeded according to the November 2025 FIFA rankings. The two highest-ranked teams will advance directly to the finals of their respective paths.
The remaining four teams will compete in semifinal matches, with the winners advancing to face the seeded teams for a place at the World Cup.
Intercontinental Playoff Fixtures:
Path 1:
New Caledonia national football team vs Jamaica national football team
Winner faces DR Congo national football team
Path 2:
Bolivia national football team vs Suriname national football team
Winner faces Iraq national football team
As with the European playoffs, semifinal matches will take place on March 26, followed by finals on March 31, completing the lineup for the 2026 World Cup.
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