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world cup The qualifiers are almost complete but there remains curiosity for many countries before the full line-ups for next summer’s tournament are confirmed.
There will be 16 European teams that will qualify for the March playoffs, which will be followed by The World Cup group-stage draw is held on 5 DecemberNow only four more places are left in the tournament,
troy parrotSent a brilliant winner in the last minute against Hungary Republic of Ireland reach the play-offs While behind group winner Portugal wales And northern ireland The play-off spot has also been booked.
The playoffs will be played in single-leg knockout matches, with a draw leading the way. The 16 teams will be divided into four sets of four, leaving each country two wins away from the World Cup as semi-finals and then the final will be played.
Here’s everything you need to know
When is the World Cup 2026 playoff draw?
UEFA play-off draw Thursday 20th November 12 noon GMT.
When will the World Cup 2026 playoffs take place?
The matches along with the semi-finals will be held in March 2026 on 26th March and final on 31st march,
Who is in the playoffs?
The 12 group runners-up, including the Republic of Ireland and Wales, will join the four best-ranked teams from the previous Nations League campaign who failed to finish in the top-two of the first qualifying round, such as Northern Ireland.
The 16 teams will be divided into four pots of four teams each. Pot A to Pot C 12 group runners-up will be determined fifa Ranking. For example, Italy, which is ranked ninth and is the highest-ranked European team to fail to qualify automatically, will be in Pot A. Pot D will be the four teams that qualified through the Nations League.
Confirmed group runners-up (12/12): Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Czech Republic, Kosovo, Denmark, Turkey, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Confirmed Nations League teams (4/4): Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia
What are utensils?
Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Türkiye, Ukraine
Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia
Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo
Pot 4: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
How does the draw work?
Each of the four paths to the play-offs will include one team from Pot 1, one from Pot 2, one from Pot 3 and one from Pot 4. In the semi-finals, the Pot 1 team will face the Pot 4 team, and the Pot 2 team will face the Pot 3 team, with the Pot 1 and 2 teams playing at home. The two semi-final winners from each path will then meet in the final (home advantage will be decided in the preliminary draw) and the winner of that clash will qualify for the World Cup.
What about the intercontinental play-off draw?
this will also happen on Thursday 20th November And it will consist of six teams, with the top two teams based on FIFA ranking receiving a bye to the finals.
Qualified (6/6): DR Congo, Bolivia, New Caledonia, Iraq, Jamaica, Suriname
When is the World Cup 2026 group stage draw?
Draw will be held for 2026 World Cup 5pm GMT/12am EST But Friday 5th DecemberAt the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. us President donald trump Attendance is expected.