According to the results of the European qualifier for the World Cup and Nations League, 16 playoff participants were determined. The teams were divided into four pots. For Pots 1, 2, and 3, the FIFA ranking as of November 19 was taken into account; the group winners from the Nations League occupied places in Pot 4.

Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.

Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia.

Pot 3: Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo.

Pot 4: Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland.

Based on the draw results, Ukrainians will take Path B, where they will face Sweden at home in a semi-final match on March 26. If successful, Ukraine's national team will compete for a World Cup spot against Poland or Albania in the final on March 31.

World Cup-2026 Qualifier Playoff. Europe

Path A

Semi-finals

26.03.2026

Italy — Northern Ireland

Wales — Bosnia and Herzegovina

Final

31.03.2026

Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina — Italy/Northern Ireland

Path B

Semi-finals

26.03.2026

Ukraine — Sweden

Poland — Albania

Final

31.03.2026

Ukraine/Sweden — Poland/Albania

Path C

Semi-finals

26.03.2026

Turkey — Romania

Slovakia — Kosovo

Final

31.03.2026

Slovakia/Kosovo — Turkey/Romania

Path D

Semi-finals

26.03.2026

Denmark — North Macedonia

Czech Republic — Ireland

Final

31.03.2026

Czech Republic/Ireland — Denmark/North Macedonia

Intercontinental Playoff

Semi-finals

26.03.2026

New Caledonia — Jamaica

Bolivia — Suriname

Finals

31.03.2026

New Caledonia/Jamaica — DR Congo

Bolivia/Suriname — Iraq

Photo fifa.com

World Cup-2026. Final Tournament

After the November international window, 42 participants in the World Cup are known.

— Hosts: USA, Canada, Mexico.

— Europe: England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Scotland.

— South America: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia.

— Asia: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.

— Africa: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, PDR Congo, Senegal, Ivory Coast.

— CONCACAF: Panama, Curacao, Haiti.

— Oceania: New Zealand.

The last six participants in the World Cup will be determined by the results of matches in March 2026: six national teams in the intercontinental playoff will compete for two spots, and another four spots will be decided in the European playoff involving sixteen teams.

The World Cup-2026 is the first tournament in history to feature 48 participating teams. There will be twelve groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.

Matches of the 23rd World Cup will take place in sixteen cities: Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle in the USA.

The opening match of the World Cup will be held on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, while the final will take place in New York on July 19.

The draw for the final tournament will take place on December 5.

World Cup-2026 Final Tournament Calendar