New York, November 23, 2025
The final six spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided through two critical playoff processes in March 2026, involving European nations and an intercontinental tournament held in Mexico. This decisive stage will determine the last teams qualifying for the tournament set for June-July 2026.
European Playoffs: Four Spots at Stake
Europe’s final four World Cup berths will be determined by 16 teams. These include 12 UEFA qualifying group runners-up and the top 4 UEFA Nations League group winners who did not gain direct qualification. These teams will be divided into four distinct playoff paths, each consisting of four teams.
The playoff format is a knockout style with single-leg semi-finals scheduled for March 26, 2026, followed by single-leg finals on March 31, 2026. The winners of each path will secure one of the four remaining World Cup spots allocated to Europe.
Key matchups in the semi-finals include fixtures such as Italy versus Northern Ireland, Wales against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Denmark taking on North Macedonia. Winners will progress to path finals, for example, the Path A final may feature Wales or Bosnia meeting Italy or Northern Ireland.
Intercontinental Playoffs: Two Spots in Mexico
Simultaneously, an intercontinental playoff tournament featuring six teams from different global confederations will be held across two venues in Mexico—Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey—from March 23 to 31, 2026. This tournament awards two World Cup places.
The participants comprise teams from AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North and Central America), OFC (Oceania), and CONMEBOL (South America). Notable teams include nations like New Zealand from Oceania, as well as squads from Asia and the Americas that narrowly missed direct qualification during their continental qualifiers.
The format divides the six teams into two brackets of three. Each bracket features an initial match between two unseeded teams, with the winner facing a seeded team in the bracket final. The two bracket champions earn qualification for the World Cup.
Significance in the Expanded Tournament Context
The 2026 World Cup, expanding to 48 teams, necessitates a sophisticated qualification process. These playoffs introduce high-stakes matches, with strong contenders vying for final inclusion in the world’s premier football tournament.
These playoffs offer a last opportunity for several historically significant football nations and emerging teams to enter the global stage. The intercontinental playoffs in Mexico also serve as a preparatory event ahead of the World Cup, providing competitive exposure to key venues.
As the playoff dates approach, the football world awaits decisive encounters that will finalize the line-up for what promises to be a landmark World Cup expansion in North America, spotlighting global talent and intensifying qualification drama.