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2026 World Cup Playoffs: Dates, Schedule, Teams Involved
We’re edging closer to the magic figure of 48, but we won’t know the final six teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup until March 2026.
While qualifying across the globe concluded last November, several nations still have work to do if they’re to book their place at this summer’s tournament. For some, the playoffs represent a nervy burden, while others are absolutely thrilled to have their World Cup hopes alive and kicking.
UEFA’s sizable representation at the 2026 World Cup means they’ll stage their own playoffs, as they did in 2022, while those who scraped out of their respective qualifying processes around the rest of the world will be involved in FIFA’s inter-confederation playoffs.
Thus, the drama and excitement of World Cup qualifying isn’t over, with potentially the most euphoric moments yet to arrive.
Here‘s everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
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When Are the 2026 World Cup UEFA Playoffs?
The playoffs that will determine the final four nations from UEFA to qualify for the 2026 World Cup will take place over five days in March 2026.
The semifinals in each of the four paths take place on Mar. 26, and the respective finals will be held five days later on Mar. 31.
What Teams Are Involved in the UEFA Playoffs?
There were 16 European nations involved in total, with the 12 qualifying group runners-up being joined by the four highest-ranked 2024–25 UEFA Nations League group winners who failed to finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group.
Slovakia, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Italy, Albania, Czechia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales, Kosovo, Türkiye and Denmark qualified for the playoffs as group runners-up.
Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland are the four Nations League group winners to make the playoffs.
After the first round of matches, only the following eight European nations remain:
- Poland
- Italy
- Czechia
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Türkiye
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Kosovo
UEFA Playoffs Schedule
Path A
Date | Fixture | Location | Playoff Round |
|---|---|---|---|
March 26, 2026 | Italy 2–0 Northern Ireland | Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, Bergamo | Semifinal 1 |
March 26, 2026 | Wales 1–1 (2–4 pens) Bosnia and Herzegovina | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | Semifinal 2 |
March 31, 2026 | Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff or Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica | Final |
Path B
Date | Fixture | Location | Playoff Round |
|---|---|---|---|
March 26 | Ukraine 1–3 Sweden | Estadi Ciutat de València, Valencia | Semifinal 3 |
March 26 | Poland 2–1 Albania | Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw | Semifinal 4 |
March 31 | Sweden vs. Poland | Estadi Ciutat de València, Valencia or Nationalarenan, Solna | Final |
Path C
Date | Fixture | Location | Playoff Round |
|---|---|---|---|
March 26 | Türkiye 1–0 Romania | Beşiktaş Stadium, Istanbul | Semifinal 5 |
March 26 | Slovakia 3–4 Kosovo | Tehelné pole, Bratislava | Semifinal 6 |
March 31 | Kosovo vs. Türkiye | Tehelné pole, Bratislava or Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina | Final |
Path D
Date | Fixture | Location | Playoff Round |
|---|---|---|---|
March 26 | Denmark 4–0 North Macedonia | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen | Semifinal 7 |
March 26 | Czechia 2–2 (4–3 pens) Republic of Ireland | Fortuna Arena, Prague | Semifinal 8 |
March 31 | Czechia vs. Denmark | Stadion Letná, Prague or Aviva Stadium, Dublin | Final |
When Are the 2026 World Cup Inter-Confederation Playoffs?
The 2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs will be held in March 2026, with the semifinals and finals in both pathways taking place on 26 and 31 March, respectively.
Mexico will host the playoffs, with the four games taking place at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.
What Teams Are Involved in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs?
Six non-UEFA members will participate in the inter-confederation playoffs, with AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC each having one representative. CONCACAF, though, will have two.
The DR Congo advanced from CAF’s playoffs in November, Bolivia qualified by finishing seventh in CONMEBOL’s qualifying table, while New Caledonia were beaten by New Zealand with a spot in the finals at stake.
Iraq advanced from the AFC, while Jamaica and Suriname represent CONCACAF.
- DR Congo
- Bolivia
- New Caledonia
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Suriname
Inter-Confederation Playoffs Schedule
Path 1
Date | Fixture | Location | Playoff Round |
|---|---|---|---|
26 March 2026 | New Caledonia vs. Jamaica | Estadio Akron, Zapopan | Semifinal |
31 March 2026 | DR Congo vs. Winner of Semifinal | Estadio Akron, Zapopan | Final |
Path 2
Date | Fixture | Location | Playoff Round |
|---|---|---|---|
26 March 2026 | Bolivia vs. Suriname | Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe | Semifinal |
31 March 2026 | Iraq vs. Winner of Semifinal | Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe | Final |
READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE
James Cormack is a freelancer soccer writer for Sports Illustrated FC. An expert on Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, he follows Italian and German soccer, taking particular interest in the work of Antonio Conte & Julian Nagelsmann.