World Cup 2026 qualification: Pathways for UEFA and Intercontinental Teams Revealed
MIAMI – As the road to the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup narrows, the qualification pathways for teams in UEFA and through the intercontinental playoffs are becoming clearer. Here’s a breakdown of how these crucial stages will unfold, determining the final participants in the tournament kicking off June 11, 2026, at the Aztec Stadium.
UEFA Playoff Structure
UEFA’s playoff system, determined by results from the European Qualifiers, will involve several stages. Currently confirmed matchups include:
* Poland vs estonia
* Wales vs Finland
* Israel vs Iceland
* Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Ukraine
* Greece vs Kazakhstan
* Georgia vs Luxembourg
* Kosovo vs Switzerland
* Denmark vs North Macedonia
* Czechia vs Ireland
These matches will determine which European nations secure the final spots in the tournament.
Intercontinental Playoff Tournament: A Detailed Look
A six-team intercontinental playoff tournament will award two additional World Cup berths.This contest brings together representatives from five of the six FIFA confederations – Conmebol (South America), AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), OFC (Oceania), and Concacaf (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean), with Concacaf being the only confederation with two entrants.
The tournament will unfold as follows:
* Bracket Formation: A draw on November 20th will determine the two three-team brackets.
* Ranking & Semifinals: The four lowest-ranked teams (based on FIFA ranking) will compete in the semifinals.The two highest-ranked teams will advance directly to the final.
* Finals & Qualification: The winners of the two finals will earn their places at the 2026 World Cup.
The Teams Battling in the Intercontinental playoffs
Here’s a breakdown of each confederation’s representative:
* Conmebol (South America): Bolivia qualified for the playoff after finishing seventh in the South American qualifiers.
* Concacaf (North America): Jamaica and Suriname will represent Concacaf in the playoffs, earning their spots after the final day of the qualifying round.
* AFC (Asia): Iraq secured their place by defeating the United Arab Emirates in the final round of Asian qualifying.
* CAF (Africa): Congo qualified as Africa’s representative, having defeated Nigeria in the final of the second round of CAF qualifiers.
* OFC (Oceania): New Caledonia will participate after losing to New Zealand in the final of the third Oceania qualifying round; New Zealand has already qualified directly.
Semifinal Matchups Confirmed
Based on current FIFA rankings, Iraq and Congo are the top-ranked teams and will head straight to the final. The semifinal matchups are:
* Republic of Congo vs. Winner of New Caledonia vs. Jamaica
* Iraq vs. Winner of Bolivia vs. Suriname
Key dates
* Semifinals: March 23
* Finals: March 31
Expanded Format for 2026
The 2026 World Cup will feature a new format with 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a round of 32, initiating the knockout stage. FIFA has stipulated that finalists will play a total of eight matches throughout the tournament.
Tournament Scale
A total of 104 games will be played throughout the 2026 World Cup, a important increase of 40 games compared to the 2022 tournament. The championship match is scheduled for July 19, 2026.
