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