Italy will take on Northern Ireland for a chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the play-off draw took place on Thursday at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
There are 16 European teams and six teams from other continents that have advanced to the play-offs, which will take place in March next year, while the World Cup draw will take place on December 5.
The 16 European countries were divided into four pots of four, with Pot A to Pot C determined by FIFA rankings, while Pot D had teams that qualified through the Nations League. The draw leaves each country two wins away (semi-finals and finals) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
European play-offs draw
PATH A
SF 1: Italy vs Northern Ireland
SF 2: Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final: Winner SF 1 vs. Winner SF 2 (home)
PATH B
SF 3: Ukraine vs. Sweden
SF 4: Poland vs Albania
Final: Winner SF 3 (home) versus Winner SF 4
TOAD C
SF 5: Turkiye vs Romania
SF 6: Slovakia vs. Kosovo
Final: Winner SF 5 vs. Winner SF 6 (home)
TOAD D
SF 7: Denmark vs North Macedonia
SF 8: Czech Republic vs. Ireland
Final: Winner SF 7 vs. Winner SF 8 (home)
While the European play-off groups have been announced, six teams from the rest of the continents will compete for two spots. Iraq and Congo DR entered the play-offs as top seeds and took their places in the two finals, while New Caledonia, Jamaica, Bolivia and Suriname will compete for the other two.
The winners of the two finals seal a place at the World Cup.
INTERCONTINENTAL PLAYOFF LAW
PATH A
Semi-final 1: New Caledonia vs Jamaica – The winner will face Congo DR for qualification
PATH B
Semi-final 2: Bolivia vs Suriname – The winner will face Iraq for qualification
Published on November 20, 2025
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