TL;DR
- The 2026 World Cup final picture will be complete in March next year after two FIFA playoff tournaments.
- Six teams will compete in the intercontinental playoffs: one each from AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and two from CONCACAF.
- DR Congo and Iraq are the top-ranked nations advancing directly to their respective qualification finals.
- The intercontinental playoff games are anticipated to take place in Mexico in March 2026.
The final picture for the 2026 World Cup will become complete in March next year.
With The November international break concluded, we've identified all but six of the nations that will compete in next year's event across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The two FIFA playoff tournaments, the UEFA and intercontinental editions, will determine the remaining teams.
AllSportsPeople breaks down everything you need to know about the 2026 intercontinental playoffs. This page will be updated once the draw is completed.
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The 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoffs will feature which teams?
A total of six teams have secured spots in the intercontinental playoffs, with one representative each from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC confederations, and two teams advancing from CONCACAF.
| Nation | Confederation | Qualified via | FIFA rank |
| Iraq | AFC | AFC playoff winner | 57 |
| DR Congo | CAF | CAF playoff winner | 60 |
| Jamaica | CONCACAF | Highest-ranking group runner-up | 68 |
| Suriname | CONCACAF | Second highest-ranking group runner-up | 126 |
| Bolivia | CONMEBOL | Seventh-place finisher | 76 |
| New Caledonia | OFC | Qualifying tournament runner-up | 150 |
Intercontinental playoff bracket and schedule
The intercontinental playoffs schedule will be set during the draw on Thursday, November 20.
This page will be updated once the draw has been completed.
At the very least, we're aware that DR Congo and Iraq have advanced directly to the finals of their respective qualification routes, holding the distinction of being the top-ranked nations participating.
The games are anticipated to take place in Mexico, specifically at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.
Pathway 1
Semifinal
| Date | Match | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
Final
| Date | Match | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | DR Congo vs. Semifinal winner | TBA |
Pathway 2
Semifinal
| Date | Match | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
Final
| Date | Match | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Iraq vs. Semifinal winner | TBA |
MORE: Updated list of teams to have qualified for the biggest World Cup ever
Playoff winners will join the following World Cup groups:
The World Cup group-stage draw is scheduled for December 5, so the playoff winners' group assignments remain unknown.
Given the ranking of the teams involved, the two that progress from the playoffs will likely be in Pot 4 for the draw, meaning they should expect to face some difficult opponents in the tournament proper.
World Cup intercontinental playoff format
Recent qualification cycles have seen a simplified structure for the FIFA World Cup playoff format.
Concerns were voiced, with criticisms leveled regarding perceived advantages for 'stronger' confederations, stemming from the significant amount of cross-continental travel undertaken by players, frequently during their domestic seasons.
The intercontinental playoffs for the 2022 FIFA World Cup were held at a neutral site in Qatar. Because these matches took place on neutral ground, they were decided in a single 90-minute contest instead of the usual two-leg series with home and away fixtures. If needed, extra time and penalty shootouts were employed.
Europe (UEFA) is the sole regional confederation lacking a place in the intercontinental playoffs, as it conducts its own playoff competition.
MORE: All about the World Cup playoffs and how they work
World Cup intercontinental playoff qualifiers
The intercontinental playoffs have provided countries with an extra path to participate in the premier international football tournament.
Most teams have exited in the group stages after qualifying for the event, yet the opportunity to compete in the World Cup has given supporters from countries not among the top tier a way to participate.
| Year | Qualified Nation(s) | Playoff Opponent | Result | World Cup stage reached |
| 1974 | Chile | Soviet Union | 2-0 on agg. | Group Stage |
| 1978 | Hungary | Bolivia | 9-2 on agg. | Group Stage |
| 1982 | — | — | — | — |
| 1986 | Scotland | Australia | 2-0 on agg. | Group Stage |
| 1990 | Colombia | Israel | 1-0 on agg. | Round of 16 |
| 1994 | Argentina | Australia | 2-1 on agg. | Round of 16 |
| 1998 | Iran | Australia | 3-3 on agg. (Away goals) | Group Stage |
| 2002 | Rep of Ireland Uruguay | Iran Australia | 2-1 on agg. 3-1 on agg. | Round of 16 Group Stage |
| 2006 | Trinidad & Tobago Australia | Bahrain Uruguay | 2-1 on agg. 1-1 on agg. (4-2 PKs) | Group Stage Round of 16 |
| 2010 | New Zealand Uruguay | Bahrain Costa Rica | 1-0 on agg. 2-1 on agg. | Group Stage Semifinal |
| 2014 | Uruguay Mexico | Jordan New Zealand | 5-0 on agg. 9-3 on agg. | Round of 16 Round of 16 |
| 2018 | Australia Peru | Honduras New Zealand | 3-1 on agg. 2-0 on agg. | Group Stage Group Stage |
| 2022 | Australia Costa Rica | Peru New Zealand | 0-0 (5-4 PKs) 1-0 | Round of 16 Group Stage |
MORE: All the countries making their World Cup debut in 2026
FIFA playoff history
Ahead of the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, FIFA incorporated intercontinental playoffs into its qualification process.
The first match, however, was marred by political dispute when the Soviet Union team declined to journey to Chile for the second match in Santiago after a coup d'etat occurred in the nation, resulting in the Chileans advancing to the tournament by default.
Since then, the intercontinental playoff structure has been an ever-present part of World Cup qualifying with 1982 the only exception. The matchups changed from 1986 onwards.
The UEFA vs. CONMEBOL matchup was substituted with UEFA vs. OFC or CONMEBOL vs. OFC, subsequently evolving into a four-team arrangement before the 1994 World Cup, only to revert temporarily again before France '98.
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