World Cup play-off draw: Start time and where to watch | OneFootball

The European 2026 World Cup play-off draw takes place in Zurich today, Thursday, November 20, at 13:00 CET (12:30 GMT): here’s how to follow it live.

Italy will learn their World Cup play-off opponents during today’s draw at  FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

Italy’s possible opponents in World Cup play-off semifinal

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Pio Esposito of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Azzurri are in pot one, which means they’ll play the one-legged semifinal at home. Their next opponents come from pot 4 with Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland or Romania being one of their next rivals.

The winner will meet one of the teams emerging victorious from clashes between teams in pots 2 and 3, and the venue for the final will also be determined in today’s draw.

World Cup play-off draw: how to watch live

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Players of Italy pose for a team photograph prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Football Italia will follow today’s 2026 World Cup play-off with a liveblog and full coverage before and after the event. FIFA+ will stream the play-off draw live.

Italy finished as runners-up in Group I with 16 points, six below the winners, Norway. The Azzurri lost twice against Erling Haaland’s side, conceding seven times and scoring just once across the two meetings.