Today, December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D.C., the final tournament draw of the 2026 World Cup took place. Ukraine among other playoff participants ended up in the fourth pot. 

As a reminder, according to the results of the playoff draw in UEFA's zone, Ukrainians will take Path B, where on their home field on March 26 they will face Sweden. In case of success in this confrontation, Ukraine's national team will compete for a spot at the World Cup against Poland — Albania winner on March 31.

UEFA Playoff Path to the 2026 World Cup

Path A

Semifinals

March 26, 2026

Italy — Northern Ireland

Wales — Bosnia and Herzegovina

Final

March 31, 2026

Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina — Italy/Northern Ireland  

Path B

Semifinals

March 26, 2026

Ukraine — Sweden

Poland — Albania

Final

March 31, 2026

Ukraine/Sweden — Poland/Albania 

Path C

Semifinals

March 26, 2026

Turkey — Romania

Slovakia — Kosovo

Final

March 31, 2026

Slovakia/Kosovo — Turkey/Romania

Path D

Semifinals

March 26, 2026

Denmark — North Macedonia

Czech Republic — Ireland

Final

March 31, 2026

Czech Republic/Ireland — Denmark/North Macedonia

Photo UEFA

Intercontinental Playoffs

Semifinals

March 26, 2026

New Caledonia — Jamaica

Bolivia — Suriname

Finals

March 31, 2026

New Caledonia/Jamaica — DR Congo

Bolivia/Suriname — Iraq

2026 World Cup Final Tournament

After the November international window, 42 participants in the tournament 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, DR 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, another four slots will be contested in the European playoff involving sixteen teams.

Photo FIFA

Results of the Final Tournament Draw for 2026 World Cup

So, if Ukraine successfully advances through the European playoff path, their team will enter Group F where they will face: Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Playoff Path D winner.

Group B: Canada, UEFA Playoff Path A winner, Qatar, Switzerland.

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.

Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff Path C winner.

Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Playoff Path B winner, Tunisia.

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.

Group I: France, Senegal, Intercontinental Playoff 2 winner, Norway.

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.

Group K: Portugal, Intercontinental Playoff 1 winner, Uzbekistan, Colombia.

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.

Photo: FIFA

The 2026 World Cup will be the first in history to feature 48 teams in its final stage. Twelve groups of four teams each have been formed. The top two teams from each group and eight best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16.

Matches of the 23rd World Cup will take place in sixteen cities. These include: 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 take place on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City, while the final will be held in New York on July 19.

2026 World Cup Final Tournament Schedule