World Cup play-off draw results: Rivals for Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Ukraine, Turkey, Ireland...
FIFA has made the draw for the upcoming World Cup play-offs to determine the last six teams to qualify for World Cup 2026 next summer.
There are, in fact, two different play-offs: the Inter-Confederation play-offs, with six teams battling for two spots, and the European play-offs, with 16 teams battling for four spots. Both mini-tournaments take place between March 26 (semi-finals) and March 31 (final).
European play-offs
The 16 teams (which include the 12 runner-ups on each group and four additional who were saved by their performance in Nations League) have been drawn into four "groups", or paths, with four teams each. Each team will only play up to two matches: a semi-final and a final, resulting in the four group winners going to World Cup next summer:
Path A
Italy vs. Northern Ireland
Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final: Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy/Northern Ireland
Path B
Ukraine vs. Sweden
Poland vs. Albania
Final: Ukraine/Sweden vs. Poland/Albania
Path C
Türkiye vs. Romania
Slovakia vs. Kosovo
Final: Slovakia/Kosovo vs. Türkiye/Romania
Path D
Denmark vs. North Macedonia
Czechia vs. Republic of Ireland
Final: Czechia/Republic of Ireland vs. Denmark/North Macedonia
Inter-Confederation play-offs
The Inter-Confederation play-offs are similar, but with less teams, and two of them seeded, meaning they will avoid playing the semi-final (due to their best FIFA ranking):
Path 1
New Caledonia vs. Jamaica
Final: New Caledonia/Jamaica vs. Congo DR
Path 2
Bolivia vs. Suriname
Bolivia/Suriname vs. Iraq
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