The final spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are about to be determined by UEFA and an intercontinental play-off.
Published March 24, 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11th, with countries competing fiercely in qualifiers around the world for the last remaining spots.
UEFA was the last governing body to complete the continental play-off route, with four European spots remaining in this high-profile event.
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FIFA’s playoff tournament, which is an intercontinental competition, then provides a last chance bar for the top two non-qualifiers from other continental processes around the world.
Al Jazeera Sports looks at the road to UEFA’s final continental playoffs as it draws to a close.
Which UEFA team has a chance of qualifying for the World Cup?
The World Cup will feature more European teams than teams from any other continent: 16.
Meanwhile, 16 European teams are still vying for the final four spots for the UEFA World Cup.
Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania, Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye, Romania, Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland
Which UEFA teams have already qualified for the World Cup?
The 12 European teams that have already qualified for the World Cup are:
Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Belgium, England, Croatia
What is the path to the World Cup for the remaining UEFA teams?
The remaining teams are split into four paths. Only the winner of each pass can qualify.
Path A:
Italy vs. Northern Ireland, Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
The winner of this pass will join World Cup Group B (along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland).
Path B:
Ukraine vs Sweden, Poland vs Albania
The winner of this pass will join World Cup Group F (Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia).
Path C:
Slovakia vs. Kosovo, Turkiye vs. Romania
The winner of this pass will join World Cup Group D (alongside America, Paraguay and Australia).
Path D:
Denmark vs. North Macedonia and Czech Republic vs. Republic of Ireland
The winner of this pass will join World Cup Group A (along with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea).
When is the first set of UEFA playoffs for World Cup qualification?
The first round of pathway matches will be played on March 27th between the remaining 16 teams and will be a single-leg semi-final.
When is the second set of the UEFA Playoffs for World Cup qualification?
The second round of pathway matches will take place on March 31st, with four winners from each pathway final advancing to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These matches will also be played in single legs.
How did UEFA Qualifiers reach this stage?
The final four spots in the UEFA qualifiers will be determined by the 12 teams that finished second in the group qualifiers and four teams based on their performance in the UEFA Nations League.
How was the home team for the UEFA playoffs determined?
The top ranked team will host the semi-finals. The host country for the finals was determined by lottery.
Play-off hopefuls put pressure on Italy ahead of 2026 World Cup
Of the countries that have already qualified, Italy is undoubtedly the biggest name.
The four-time champions are trying to avoid the ignominy of missing out on the World Cup for the third year in a row.
Italy’s domestic league, Serie A, has struggled to compete in European competitions, with attention focused on its lag behind other leagues on the continent.
However, there is perhaps no greater evidence of the downfall of Italian football than the failure to reach the finals.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso said: “I can’t deny that we are nervous.” “Only people who don’t have blood flowing through their veins won’t feel it.”
Will there be World Cup qualifying after UEFA?
yes. There is another format for the intercontinental playoffs, which FIFA simply calls play-off tournaments.
Two teams out of six will advance.
The team lineup consisted of two countries from CONCACAF (Jamaica and Suriname), and one country each from Asia (Iraq), Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo), South America (Bolivia), and Oceania (New Caledonia).
