FIFA World Cup 2026: MLS guide to March's last-chance qualifiers | OneFootball

By Cal Meachem

The final spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided during the March international window, determining which six nations complete this summer's 48-team field.

The remaining berths are determined via the Intercontinental Playoffs (two spots) and UEFA Playoffs (four spots). Semifinals will be played on March 26, followed by the finals on March 31.

These last-chance qualifiers will feature nine MLS players spanning eight countries and eight clubs.

Intercontinental Playoffs: MLS players

Three MLS players will feature in this pathway, which grants two tickets to the World Cup.

Bolivia

Jamaica

Read more: Andre Blake & Jamaica seek World Cup ticket

UEFA Playoffs: MLS players

Six MLS players will feature in this pathway, which provides four spots at the World Cup.

Albania

Czechia

Denmark

North Macedonia

Sweden

Ukraine

Read more: Anders Dreyer chases World Cup dream with Denmark

European Playoffs: What to know

Format

Sixteen (16) teams that advanced past the first round of European (UEFA) qualifying were drawn, via seeding pots, into four groups of four.

Each group features two single-leg semifinals, with the semifinal winners advancing to a single-leg final. The winners of each of the four UEFA playoff pathways advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Pathway A

Semifinals

Final

Winner joins Group B at the World Cup alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Pathway B

Semifinals

Final

Winner joins Group F at the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.

Pathway C

Semifinals

Final

Winner joins Group D at the World Cup alongside the United States, Australia and Paraguay.

Pathway D

Semifinals

Final

Winner joins Group A at the World Cup alongside Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

Intercontinental Playoffs: What to know

Format

This play-in tournament features six teams: one from Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania, plus two from Concacaf. There are no European teams in the Intercontinental Playoffs.

The six teams are divided into two groups of three, with the lower-ranked teams facing off in the semifinals and the two higher-ranked teams receiving byes to their respective finals.

The semifinal winners will advance to the single-elimination final. The winner of the final advances to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

These matches will all be held at neutral venues in Mexico.

Pathway A

Semifinal

Final

Winner joins Group K at the World Cup alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

Playoff Pathway B

Semifinal

Final

Winner joins Group I at the World Cup alongside France, Senegal and Norway.

World Cup need to know