Everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup play-offs | OneFootball

The final six places for the expanded 48-team World Cup are up for grabs this week, as two play-off tournaments complete the lineup for the biggest ever edition.

Four spots will be claimed by European nations, with the remaining two emerging from a new intercontinental tournament hosted in Mexico.

This monumental World Cup, expanded from the 32-team format of Qatar 2022, will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Four-time champions Italy face the daunting prospect of missing out on a World Cup for a third consecutive time, making them the standout name in the European play-offs.

Coach Gennaro Gattuso stated: "It’s undeniable that there’s nervousness. Only someone without blood running through their veins wouldn’t feel it."

New Caledonia, Suriname, Kosovo, and Albania are also vying to qualify for the first time.

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Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy are at risk of missing a third straight World Cup (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

European play-offs

Europe will contribute the largest contingent to the World Cup, with 16 teams in total. Twelve have already secured their berths, leaving the final four to battle it out in the playoffs.

The format involves eight one-off semi-finals, followed by four decisive finals, with winners progressing. Teams comprise 12 group qualifying runners-up and four based on UEFA Nations League performances.

Highest-ranked teams host the semi-finals; final hosts were determined by a draw. Key European playoff paths include:

Path A: Italy vs. Northern Ireland, Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Path B: Ukraine vs. Sweden, Poland vs. Albania.

Path C: Turkey vs. Romania, Slovakia vs. Kosovo.

Path D: Denmark vs. North Macedonia, Czech Republic vs. Ireland.

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Republic of Ireland sealed their place in the World Cup play-offs in the most dramatic fashion (AFP via Getty Images)

Intercontinental play-offs

A distinct format governs the intercontinental playoffs, officially termed the Fifa Play-off Tournament, where two teams will emerge from a field of six.

The lineup features two teams from CONCACAF (Jamaica, Suriname), and one each from Asia (Iraq), Africa (DR Congo), South America (Bolivia), and Oceania (New Caledonia).

The four lowest-ranked nations compete in two semi-finals, with victors advancing to face one of the two highest-ranked teams (DR Congo and Iraq) in a final. Games are staged in Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Path 1: New Caledonia vs. Jamaica (winner plays DR Congo)

Path 2: Bolivia vs. Suriname (winner plays Iraq)

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Jamaica, who were previously coached by Steve McLaren, are in the play-offs (REUTERS)

When are the play-offs?

Semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday, with finals taking place next Tuesday.

Who has qualified for the World Cup?

The nations already confirmed for the 2026 World Cup include...

Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States.

AFC: Australia, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan.

CAF: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia.

CONCACAF: Curacao, Haiti, Panama.

CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay. OFC: New Zealand.

UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland.

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Thomas Tuchel’s England have already booked their spot at the World Cup (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)

The 2026 World Cup runs through June and July, kicking off at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11.

The final is on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.