The 2026 World Cup European play-off draw has taken place, meaning we now know the fixtures for the semi-final matches and potential finals.
12 of Europe’s 16 prized places have already been filled for the tournament from the group phase, with the remaining four spots to be decided via the nerve-jangling play-offs, which feature 16 European countries, who each have a second chance to book their ticket to North America next summer.
Below, we break down the teams involved, the fixtures, key dates, and the full play-off format as we gear up for what promises to be a dramatic finale.
Which countries are in the play-offs?
First of all, let’s run through the 16 European countries that will feature in the play-offs and the Pots they were allocated for the draw, which were based on world rankings and Nations League performance.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Wales | Kosovo | Romania |
| Ukraine | Slovakia | Republic of Ireland | Northern Ireland |
| Turkey | Poland | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Sweden |
| Denmark | Czech Republic | Albania | North Macedonia |
Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Wales have all made it through to the play-offs as group runners-up, while Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, and North Macedonia have entered via the Nations League, and have all been placed in Pot 4.
Of those 16 countries, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo have never qualified for a World Cup. Northern Ireland’s last World Cup dates back to 1986, while four-time winners Italy are in danger of missing out for the third tournament in a row.
When are the play-offs?
The World Cup play-offs will take place in March 2026. The semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday 26th March, and the finals are on Tuesday 31st March.
What’s the format of the play-offs?
The play-offs are split into four separate paths, each producing one qualifier for the World Cup. Every path contains four teams, one from each Pot.
Each path begins with two single-leg semi-finals, structured as:
- Pot 1 vs Pot 4
- Pot 2 vs Pot 3
The team from the higher Pot plays at home, and the winners of the four semi-finals then meet in a single-leg play-off final, with the victor from each path securing their place at the World Cup.
What are the play-off fixtures?
The play-off draw took place on Thursday 20th November, so we now know the eight semi-final fixtures that will take place, as well as the potential finals.
Path A
Semi-finals
- Italy vs Northern Ireland
- Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
Final
- Wales/Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Italy/Northern Irland
Path B
Semi-finals
- Ukraine vs Sweden
- Poland vs Albania
Final
- Ukraine/Sweden vs Poland/Albania
Path C
Semi-finals
- Turkey vs Romania
- Slovakia vs Kosovo
Final
- Slovakia/Kosovo vs Turkey/Romania
Path D
Semi-finals
- Denmark vs North Macedonia
- Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Final
- Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland vs Denmark/North Macedonia
What about the inter-confederation play-offs?
The inter-confederation play-offs will also take place in March 2026 with six countries battling it out for two spots at the World Cup.
Semi-finals
- New Caledonia vs Jamaica
- Bolivia vs Suriname
Finals
- Iraq vs Bolivia/Suriname
- DR Congo vs New Caledonia/Jamaica
When is the World Cup 2026 draw?
The World Cup 2026 draw will take place on Friday 5th December in Washington, at 5pm UK time.
Meanwhile, the tournament itself runs from 11th June to 19th July 2026.
Who is the favourite to win World Cup 2026?
European champions Spain are 9/2 favourites to lift the World Cup for a second time.
England, still trophyless since 1966, are next in the betting at 13/2, ahead of 2022 runners-up France (7/1) and record five-time winners Brazil (8/1), while Argentina could tempt many at odds of 9/1 as they bid to defend their title.
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