Inter-confederation, European playoffs fixtures for the 2026 World Cup

The fixtures for the 2026 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation and European qualification playoffs have been officially announced.

With 42 spots already secured through direct qualification, six eventual playoff final winners will join them — two from the inter-confederation playoffs and four from the European playoffs.

The draw, held at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, pits six nations from four confederations — CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, CAF, and OFC — into two brackets, with the winners earning a place at the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Oceania’s New Caledonia (FIFA rank 149) will face CONCACAF’s Jamaica (rank 70) in one of the semi-final fixtures.

The winner of the tie will meet the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo, rank 56), who have been seeded directly into the final due to their higher ranking.

Inter-confederation play-off fixtures

Semi-finals

New Caledonia v Jamaica

Bolivia v Suriname

Finals

New Caledonia/Jamaica v DR Congo

Bolivia/Suriname v Iraq

The play-offs will take place in Mexico in March 2026.

European playoff fixtures

Semi-finals

Path A

Italy v Northern Ireland

Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Path B

Ukraine v Sweden

Poland v Albania

Path C

Turkey v Romania

Slovakia v Kosovo

Path D

Denmark v North Macedonia

Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland

Finals

Wales/Bosnia-Herzegovina v Italy/Northern Ireland

Ukraine/Sweden v Poland/Albania

Slovakia/Kosovo v Turkey/Romania

Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland v Denmark/North Macedonia

The play-off semi-finals (single leg) will be played on Thursday, March 26, 2026, while the play-off finals (single leg) will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.