The road to the 2026 World Cup is entering its most tense phase. With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, there are still six places to be decided, which will be distributed through two routes: the UEFA play-offs and the intercontinental play-offs organised by FIFA.
Both tournaments will be played in the same FIFA window in March 2026 and will have a direct format, with no margin for error.
How the UEFA play-offs work
The European playoffs will be responsible for awarding four tickets to the World Cup. Sixteen teams that did not qualify directly will participate.
The format is simple:
- They are divided into four routes (groups) of four teams
Each route has:
- Semi-final (single match)
- Single match
- The winner of each route qualifies for the World Cup
There is no way back and no margin for recovery: two matches separate each team from the World Cup.
European Playoffs Calendar
Path A semi-finals – 26 March 2026
- Italy vs Northern Ireland
- Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final – March 31, 2026
- Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy/Northern Ireland
Route B semi-finals – 26 March 2026
- Ukraine vs Sweden
- Poland vs Albania
Final – March 31, 2026
- Ukraine/Sweden vs Poland/Albania
Path C semi-finals – 26 March 2026
- Turkey vs Romania
- Slovakia vs Kosovo
Final – March 31, 2026
- Slovakia/Kosovo – Turkey/Romania
Route D semi-finals – March 26, 2026
- Denmark vs North Macedonia
- Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Final – March 31, 2026:
- Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland vs Denmark/North Macedonia
How the intercontinental playoffs work
This tournament will determine the last two places for the World Cup and will have an “expanded Final Four” format.
Six teams from different confederations participate:
- 1 from CONMEBOL
- 2 from Concacaf
- 1 from Asia (AFC)
- 1 from Africa (CAF)
- 1 from Oceania (OFC)
The system works like this:
- The top two in the FIFA rankings go straight to the final
- The other four play semi-finals
- The winners advance to the final
- The two final winners qualify for the World Cup
Everything is played in a single match, which makes each duel an early final.
Playoff dates and schedule
The entire play-off will be played in March 2026:
- Semi-finals: March 26
- Final: March 31
Confirmed matches (Intercontinental)
- Bolivia vs. Suriname – March 26
- New Caledonia vs. Jamaica – March 26
Finals:
- Iraq vs. Bolivia/Suriname winner
- DR Congo vs. winner New Caledonia/Jamaica
All matches are on a knockout basis.
Schedule and where to watch
Schedules vary by venue (Mexico) and international broadcast, but generally:
- Semi-final matches: between 17:00 and 21:00 (local time)
- Finals: scheduled at similar times days later
As for TV and streaming, the rights are usually shared between international sports networks such as ESPN, DAZN or official FIFA platforms, depending on the country.
A bigger and more decisive playoff
The new format of the 2026 World Cup completely changed the logic of the playoffs:
- A total of 18 teams are involved in both playoffs
- 12 in UEFA + 6 in Intercontinental
- The last six qualifiers are defined
With single matches, maximum pressure and teams from all continents, the play-offs become one of the most dramatic moments on the road to the World Cup.
In a matter of days, the list of 48 teams that will seek glory at the World Cup will be completed.
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