Sixteen teams who failed to win their qualifying groups discovered the adversaries blocking their way to a berth at the 2026 World Cup after a draw on Thursday in the Swiss city of Zurich for the European play-offs.
All 16 teams will play in eight "semi-finals" on 26 March. The victors will advance to a "final" on 31 March with a place up for grabs at next summer's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In Path A, Italy will play Northern Ireland and the winner will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In Path B, Ukraine, who finished runners-up to France in Group D, take on Sweden before going up against Poland or Albania.
A third place at the World Cup will be available to Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo who are trying to advance to the World Cup for the first time since it became an independent nation in 2008.
Denmark, who shipped two late goals against Scotland on Tuesday night to drop to second in Group C, will pit their wits against North Macedonia. The victor of the match will play the Czech Republic or Republic of Ireland.
Cape Verde add new line to list of old names from Africa at 48-team World Cup
The 2026 World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams since the inception of the competition in 1930, kicks off on 11 June at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
The football fest ends with the final on 19 July at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
