The international break is here, and for once it is a hugely important one. By next Wednesday, the full 48-team line-up for the 2026 World Cup will be confirmed.
Here’s a low down on this week’s play-off action.
Who has already qualified? (42/48 Teams)
- Hosts (3): USA, Canada, Mexico.
- AFC (8): Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan.
- CAF (9): Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia.
- CONCACAF (3): Curacao, Haiti, Panama.
- CONMEBOL (6): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay.
- OFC (1): New Zealand.
- UEFA (12): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland.
What is happening this week?
The final six spots are split into two different play-off systems:
- UEFA Play-offs: 4 spots (16 European teams).
- FIFA Intercontinental Play-off Tournament: 2 spots (6 teams from across the globe).
1. The UEFA Play-offs: 16 teams, 4 winners
Europe’s final four spots are decided through four knockout “Paths” (A, B, C, and D). Each path features a one-legged semi-final (March 26) and a one-legged final (March 31).
Path A: Italy surely can’t miss out again…
- Semi-finals (March 26): Italy vs Northern Ireland; Wales vs Bosnia & Herzegovina.
- The Stakes: Italy, the European champions of 2020 and World Cup winners as recently as 2006, are desperate to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup. They face a Northern Ireland side that has proven difficult to break down in Bergamo.
Path B: Will Sweden miss Isak?
- Semi-finals (March 26): Ukraine vs Sweden; Poland vs Albania.
- The Stakes: Ukraine and Sweden meet in a repeat of their Euro 2020 classic. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski’s Poland looks to overcome a resilient Albanian side in Warsaw.
Path C: Can Kosovo make it?
- Semi-finals (March 26): Turkey vs Romania; Slovakia vs Kosovo.
- The Stakes: Turkey host Romania in a fiery encounter in Istanbul, while Kosovo are just two wins away from a historic first-ever World Cup appearance.
Path D: Will Irish eyes be smiling?
- Semi-finals (March 26): Denmark vs North Macedonia; Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland.
- The Stakes: Denmark are heavy favorites at the Parken, but all eyes are on Prague where Ireland’s “New Era” under Heimir Hallgrímsson faces its ultimate test against the Czechs.
2. The Intercontinental Play-off: 6 teams, 2 places
Staged in the host cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey (Mexico), this mini-tournament features teams from every confederation except Europe.
The Format: Two teams (DR Congo and Iraq) are “seeded” based on FIFA rankings and go straight to the finals. The other four play a semi-final for the right to face them.
Pathway 1
- Semi-final (March 26): New Caledonia vs Jamaica.
- The Final (March 31): DR Congo vs Winner of Semi-final.
- The prize: The winner enters Group K of the World Cup alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
Pathway 2
- Semi-final (March 26): Bolivia vs Suriname.
- The Final (March 31): Iraq vs Winner of Semi-final.
- The prize: The winner enters Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal.
