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Arda Güler (r.) and Ismail Yuksek (m.) celebrate the winning goal against Romania with goalscorer Ferdi Kadioglu


Overview

As of: March 31, 2026 • 10:42 p.m

The final six World Cup participants will be determined in the European and intercontinental playoffs.

Four places will be awarded in the playoffs in Europe. Italy has one last chance to qualify – otherwise the four-time world champion will miss a World Cup for the third time in a row.

  • European World Cup playoffs
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  • Intercontinental World Cup playoffs
    Right arrow

Two additional World Cup participants will be determined in intercontinental playoffs involving teams from the other confederations in North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Europe: Four World Cup participants will be determined in four tournaments

The four European playoff tournaments determine four World Cup participants.

Playoff Path A

Semifinals

Italy – Northern Ireland

2:0

Semifinals

Wales – Bosnia-Herzegovina

3:5 iU

final

Bosnia-Herzegovina – Italy

Live now

The winner of Playoff Path A plays in Group A at the World Cup with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Playoff Path B (Sweden)

Semifinals

Ukraine – Sweden

1:3

Semifinals

Poland – Albania

2:1

final

Sweden – Poland

3:2

Sweden will play in Group F at the World Cup with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.

Playoff Path C (Türkiye)

Semifinals

Türkiye – Romania

1:0

Semifinals

Slovakia – Kosovo

3:4

final

Kosovo – Türkiye

0:1

Turkey plays in Group D at the World Cup with USA, Paraguay and Australia.

Playoff Path D

Semifinals

Denmark – North Macedonia

4:0

Semifinals

Czech Republic – Ireland

4:3 iE

final

Czech Republic – Denmark

Live now

The winner of Playoff Path D plays in Group A at the World Cup with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

From Jamaica to New Caledonia – six teams in the intercontinental Playoffs

In the two intercontinental playoff tournaments, two more World Cup participants will be determined from among six teams. The games will all be played in Mexico’s two World Cup stadiums in Guadalajara and Monterrey. One finalist according to the FIFA world rankings has already been determined.

Playoff path 1

Semifinals

New Caledonia – Jamaica

0:1

final

DR Congo – Jamaica

March 31st, 11 p.m. CEST

The winner of playoff path 1 will play in Group K at the World Cup with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

Playoff path 2

Semifinals

Bolivia – Suriname

2:1

final

Iraq – Bolivia

April 1st, 5 a.m. CEST

The winner of playoff path 2 will play in Group I at the World Cup with France, Senegal and Norway.

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