2026 World Cup play-off draw revealed

The 2026 World Cup play-off draw has been revealed.

 

The new qualifying format for the tournament includes a 16-team second round, with four pods of four teams fighting for UEFA's final spots.

 

Four-time champion Italy will take on Northern Ireland for their play-off semi-final and will be hoping to avoid missing out on a third consecutive World Cup.

 

Wales will host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a one-legged World Cup play-off semi-final and could face either Italy or Northern Ireland at home in the final.

 

The Republic of Ireland will play away in the Czech Republic in their semi-final. The winner of that match will host either Denmark or North Macedonia.

 

The semi-finals will take place on Thursday March 26 and the finals on Tuesday March 31 with kick-off times of 5pm or 7.45pm.

 

The winners of the four play-off finals qualify for the World Cup and complete the field of 16 European participants.

 

 

Play-off Path A:

 

Semi-final: Italy vs Northern Ireland

Semi-final: Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Final: Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy/Northern Ireland

 

Play-off Path B:

 

Semi-final: Ukraine vs Sweden

Semi-final: Poland vs Albania

Final: Ukraine/Sweden vs Poland/Albania

 

Play-off Path C:

 

Semi-final: Turkey vs Romania

Semi-final: Slovakia vs Kosovo

Final: Slovakia/Kosovo vs Turkey/Romania

 

Play-off Path D:

 

Semi-final: Denmark vs North Macedonia

Semi-final: Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland

Final: Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland vs Denmark/North Macedonia

 

The draw was also made for the inter-confederation play-offs, from which the final two teams for the 48-strong finals will come.

 

Jamaica, who missed out on automatic qualifying to Curacao, will take on New Caledonia, with the winner facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the final.

 

Bolivia and Suriname, meanwhile, will clash for the right to face Iraq.