It’s last chance saloon for the remaining World Cup 2026 hopefuls as the qualification enters its concluding stage with today’s play-off draw.
While 42 nations have already secured their spots for next summer’s tournament, there are 16 European teams whose ambitions rest on March’s perilous play-offs, which will take place after the World Cup group-stage draw is conducted on 5 December. From that contingent, only four will progress to the finals held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Troy Parrott’s stunning last-minute winner against Hungary sent the Republic of Ireland through to a play-off behind group winners Portugal, while Wales and Northern Ireland have also booked play-off spots.
Their path to potential qualification will be decided today, with the draw determining who will play who in single-leg knockout matches. The 16 teams will be draw into four sets of four, leaving each nation two wins away from the World Cup as semi-finals and then a final are played.
Here’s everything you need to know:
When is the World Cup 2026 play-off draw?
The European play-off draw will take place on Thursday 20 November at 12pm GMT. It will be held at Fifa’s headquarter’s in Zurich.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK will be able to stream the draw live and for free on the BBC Sport website and app. It will also be available to watch on streaming service Fifa+. In the UK, the draw will not be broadcasted on TV.
Alternatively, you can follow the draw as it happens via The Independent’s live blog.
When do the World Cup 2026 play-offs take place?
The matches will be held in March 2026, with the semi-finals on 26 March and the finals on 31 March.
Who is in the play-offs?
The 12 group runners-up, including the Republic of Ireland and Wales, will be joined by the four best-ranked teams from the previous Nations League campaign who failed to finish in the top-two of first qualifying round, such as Northern Ireland.
The 16 teams will be split into four pots of four teams. Pot A to Pot C will be the 12 group runners-up and determined on Fifa ranking. Italy, who are ranked ninth and the highest-ranked European side to fail to automatically qualify, will be in Pot A, for example. Pot D will be the four teams who qualified via the Nations League.
Confirmed group runners-up (12/12): Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Czech Republic, Kosovo, Denmark, Turkey, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Confirmed Nations League teams (4/4): Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia
What are the pots?
Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine
Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia
Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo
Pot 4: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
How does the draw work?
Each of the four paths in the play-offs will feature one team from Pot 1, one from Pot 2, one from Pot 3 and one from Pot 4. The semi-finals will see the Pot 1 team face the Pot 4 team, and the Pot 2 team face the Pot 3 team, with those Pot 1 and 2 teams at home. The two semi-final winners from each path will then meet in the final (with home advantage to be decided in the initial draw) and the winner of that clash qualifies for the World Cup.
What about the inter-continental play-off draw?
This will also take place on Thursday 20 November and will feature six teams, with the top two teams based on Fifa rankings receiving a bye through to the finals.
Qualified (6/6): DR Congo, Bolivia, New Caledonia, Iraq, Jamaica, Suriname
When is the World Cup 2026 group stage draw?
The draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place at 5pm GMT/12pm EST on Friday 5 December, at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The US president Donald Trump is expected to be in attendance.
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