FIFA will organize the draws for the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-offs on November 20

FIFA will organize the draw for the play-offs on November 20 in Zurich to determine the last six participations in the 2026 World Cup with 48 teams, the world football organization announced on Friday.

The European competition will feature 16 teams – including likely four-time champions Italy – who will play for four places at the tournament in June and July in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Six teams from outside Europe will compete for two entries in the intercontinental play-offs that Mexico is expected to host. Bolivia and New Caledonia have already qualified.

All play-off matches are scheduled from March 26 to 31.

The six play-offs will be placeholders for the lowest-seeded Pot 4 at the World Cup draw on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with US President Donald Trump expected to attend.

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FIFA said the play-offs will be seeded based on the next men’s world rankings, which will be published on November 19.

The European play-offs involve four separate groups of four teams, playing the semi-finals and finals of one match. Teams enter by finishing second in the 12 qualifying groups, plus four teams that won last year’s Nations League groups, including Wales and Sweden.

The twelve winners of the European qualifying groups ending on November 18, including England, will go straight to the final tournament.

During the Intercontinental Playoffs, the four lowest-ranked teams are combined in two one-match semi-finals to advance to the final against the two highest-ranked teams.

Published on November 7, 2025