2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs: Who Still Needs to Qualify & How the Last 6 Spots Will Be Decided
The 2026 World Cup Playoffs draw is done, but the field isn’t complete yet. Four European teams and two wildcard spots from around the globe are still up for grabs in March 2026. From Italy’s redemption path to a brand-new intercontinental playoff format, this is your complete guide to who’s playing for the final six berths.
42 of the 48 teams are now confirmed after the Final Draw.
The final 6 spots will be decided in March 2026 via two separate playoff systems.
2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs
The 6 Remaining Spots (as of December 2025)
| Placeholder in Draw | Confederation | Teams Still Fighting for the Spot | Dates (2026) |
| UEFA Playoff A | Europe | Italy · Wales · Northern Ireland · Bosnia & Herzegovina | March 21–29 |
| UEFA Playoff B | Europe | Poland · Sweden · Ukraine · Albania | March 21–29 |
| UEFA Playoff C | Europe | Türkiye · Romania · Slovakia · Kosovo | March 21–29 |
| UEFA Playoff D | Europe | Denmark · Czechia · North Macedonia · Republic of Ireland | March 21–29 |
| FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 1 | Mixed (4 confederations) | Jamaica (CONCACAF) · New Caledonia (OFC) · DR Congo (CAF) · Winner of Asian 5th-place playoff (TBD) | March 24 & 27 |
| FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 2 | Mixed (2 confederations) | Bolivia (CONMEBOL) · Suriname (CONCACAF) · Iraq (AFC) | March 24 & 27 |
How the Playoffs Work
Here’s how the 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs work. They all take place in the later portions of March, so there will be plenty of time to adjust the World Cup schedules and more for fans.
1. UEFA Playoffs (4 spots – March 21–29, 2026)
- 12 teams (best Nations League group winners + runners-up who missed automatic qualification)
- Split into 4 single-elimination paths (semifinals → final)
- One-leg knockout matches hosted by the higher-seeded team
- Winners = UEFA Playoff A, B, C, D in the World Cup draw
2. FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs (2 spots – March 24 & 27, 2026)
- New format for 2026: two mini-tournaments played in neutral venues (likely USA or Qatar)
- Playoff 1: 4 teams → semifinal → final → 1 winner
- Playoff 2: 3 teams → one gets bye to final → 1 winner
- Winners go into the World Cup as “FIFA Playoff 1” and “FIFA Playoff 2”
Current Favorites (as of December 2025)
| Playoff Path | Clear Favorite | Dark Horse |
| UEFA A | Italy | Wales |
| UEFA B | Poland | Sweden |
| UEFA C | Türkiye | Romania |
| UEFA D | Denmark | Czechia |
| Intercont. 1 | Jamaica | DR Congo |
| Intercont. 2 | Iraq | Bolivia |
2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs Schedule
- March 20–21, 2026 → UEFA playoff semifinals
- March 24–25, 2026 → Intercontinental playoff semifinals
- March 26–29, 2026 → All finals → final 48-team field locked
Once these six teams are decided, the full 2026 World Cup bracket paths will be 100% set — no more placeholders!
