World Cup 2026 Play-offs: Fixtures, Results and How to Watch

World Cup 2026 play-offs will determine the six final teams heading to next summer’s global tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With 42 nations already qualified, two intense play-off tournaments are set to decide the last spots. Here’s a comprehensive guide to fixtures, results, schedules, and where to watch all the crucial action.

World Cup 2026 Play-offs: The Final Qualification Route

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is reaching its dramatic conclusion. The remaining six berths will be filled through a pair of play-off competitions: the UEFA European play-offs and the intercontinental play-offs. These matches promise high drama, with football powerhouses like Italy, Poland, and Jamaica battling for their ticket to the world stage.

European Play-offs: Key Fixtures and Dates

The European (UEFA) play-offs offer a final chance for 16 teams to book their place at World Cup 2026. Divided into four distinct paths—A, B, C, and D—each path features single-elimination semi-finals and finals. All semi-finals are scheduled for March 26, 2026, with the finals following on March 31, 2026.

Path A

• Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (Semi-final)
• Italy vs Northern Ireland (Semi-final)
• Winners meet in the final

Path B

• Ukraine vs Sweden (Semi-final)
• Poland vs Albania (Semi-final)
• Winners meet in the final

Path C

• Slovakia vs Kosovo (Semi-final)
• Turkey vs Romania (Semi-final)
• Winners meet in the final

Path D

• Czechia vs Ireland (Semi-final)
• Denmark vs North Macedonia (Semi-final)
• Winners meet in the final

These single-leg ties mean every moment counts, with teams like four-time champions Italy and rising hopefuls such as Poland and Wales aiming to secure their spots.

World Cup 2026 Play-offs: Intercontinental Showdowns

The intercontinental play-offs will see teams from several confederations competing in Mexico’s Monterrey and Guadalajara. Two final World Cup places are up for grabs through this route.

First Pathway:

• New Caledonia vs Jamaica (Semi-final)
• Winner faces DR Congo in the final

Second Pathway:

• Bolivia vs Suriname (Semi-final)
• Winner plays Iraq in the final

These matches promise compelling stories, as emerging nations and established football cultures meet for a shot at the grand stage.

How to Watch World Cup 2026 Play-offs

Football fans worldwide can follow all the action on TV and online. Broadcasting rights have been secured across major markets:

• United States: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish), and fubo streaming
• United Kingdom: BBC, S4C (Wales only), Amazon Prime Video
• Canada: TSN
• Mexico: Univision

For the latest information, updates, and in-depth coverage on the World Cup 2026 play-offs, visit for more news.

What’s at Stake in the World Cup 2026 Play-offs?

With dreams of reaching the world’s biggest football event on the line, these play-offs guarantee high tension and memorable moments. Legendary teams such as Italy are desperate to return to the World Cup after missing out last time, while nations like Jamaica and DR Congo look to make history.

Opinion: The Drama and Excitement of Play-off Football

The World Cup 2026 play-offs offer fans some of football’s most thrilling spectacles. The single-match knockout format ensures every fixture is packed with intensity, heartbreak, and elation. This year’s mix of storied giants and ambitious underdogs creates a competition where anything seems possible. Personally, I believe these play-offs showcase the true global spirit of football—where established powers must still prove themselves, and new challengers can etch their names in history. The anticipation for these matches is a reminder of why the World Cup remains the pinnacle of the sport.