TL;DR
- 42 teams are qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup; six spots remain via playoffs.
- Italy is a prominent nation competing in the UEFA playoffs for a World Cup spot.
- European playoffs offer four teams qualification; intercontinental playoffs offer two spots.
- The 2026 World Cup group stage draw is scheduled for December 5, 2025.
The qualification cycle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost at an end, with 42 of the 48 teams competing in next year's tournament now known.
The remaining spots will be claimed by the victors from the six playoff routes across the UEFA and intercontinental competitions.
Europe's playoff tournament will feature the likes of four-time world champions Italy and will offer four teams the chance to qualify for next year's finals via four brackets. The inter-confederation setup sees representatives from AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC compete for two spots in the group stage.
Today in Zurich, Switzerland, the playoff bracket draw will occur. AllSportsPeople will provide the most current information.
MORE: How the World Cup playoffs work
World Cup 2026 playoff draw live
All times ET
6:19 a.m.: If you needed a reminder, these are the teams who have already qualified for next year's World Cup. The final six berths will be claimed by the playoffs. Italy stands out as the most prominent nation still vying for a spot; it's unlikely they'd fail to qualify for the finals for a third consecutive occasion, wouldn't they?
The draw is due to start in a little over 30 minutes.
5:40 a.m.: Today's proceedings will see the two different playoff draws take place back to back, so all teams involved will know their pathway towards World Cup qualification. Here is how all that works.
As a reminder, the World Cup group-stage draw is on December 5.
5 a.m.: Today's World Cup playoffs draw is here! The event in Zurich, Switzerland, will establish the routes for The European and inter-confederation tournaments, scheduled for Next March.
The World Cup playoff teams
Six teams will contest the intercontinental playoff, producing the final two World Cup participants. In the UEFA edition, 16 teams will compete for another two spots in the tournament proper.
UEFA
| Nation | Qualified via | FIFA rank |
| Slovakia | Group A runner-up | 46 |
| Kosovo | Group B runner-up | 84 |
| Denmark | Group C runner-up | 20 |
| Ukraine | Group D runner-up | 27 |
| Turkey | Group E runner-up | 26 |
| Rep. Of Ireland | Group F runner-up | 62 |
| Poland | Group G runner-up | 33 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Group H runner-up | 75 |
| Italy | Group I runner-up | 9 |
| Wales | Group J runner-up | 34 |
| Albania | Group K runner-up | 61 |
| Czechia | Group L runner-up | 44 |
| Romania | UEFA Nations League | 47 |
| Sweden | UEFA Nations League | 40 |
| Northern Ireland | UEFA Nations League | 69 |
| North Macedonia | UEFA Nations League | 65 |
Intercontinental
| 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 |
MORE: All you need to know about December's World Cup draw
World Cup 2026 fixtures released
AllSportsPeople will provide updates on this page once the draw is complete and the paths for both playoff tournaments are established.
UEFA playoffs schedule
The semifinals are anticipated for March 26, 2026, and the finals for each bracket are scheduled for March 31.
Pathway 1
Semifinal
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Final
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 31, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Pathway 2
Semifinal
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Final
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 31, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Pathway 3
Semifinal
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Final
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 31, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Pathway 4
Semifinal
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| March 26, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Final
| Date | Match | Location |
| March 31, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Intercontinental playoffs calendar
Prior to the draw, it was understood that DR Congo and Iraq, as the top-ranked teams participating, were granted byes into the finals of their respective qualification routes.
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
The confirmation of the World Cup playoff match dates is pending.
The precise date and kickoff times of the games should be confirmed in the 48 hours following Thursday's draw.
World Cup draw date
The 2026 World Cup group stage draw is scheduled for December 5, 2025. This event will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., commencing at noon ET.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to commence on June 11, 2026.
Mexico City will host the World Cup's inaugural match on June 11, 2026. The championship game is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.