Six Playoff Spots Remain for 2026 World Cup as 22 Teams Battle for Entry

Inter-confederation and UEFA playoffs to determine final qualifiers in March

The road to the 2026 World Cup is down to its final twists and turns, with six golden tickets still up for grabs. Twenty-two hopeful teams are clinging to their dreams, each one eyeing a spot on football’s grandest stage. According to The New York Times, the last playoff berths will be settled through a high-stakes dance of inter-confederation and European (UEFA) playoffs. Buckle up—March is about to get dramatic. The playoff race is unfolding against the backdrop of the latest World Cup rankings, which have already reshaped expectations ahead of the tournament.

In the inter-confederation playoffs, it’s a true global showdown: six teams from different corners of the world will duke it out for just two precious World Cup spots. Picture this: in the first bracket, Jamaica squares off against New Caledonia, and the winner gets a date with Congo DR. Over in the second bracket, Bolivia takes on Suriname, with the victor moving on to face Iraq. These nail-biting matchups are known as FIFA Playoff 1 and FIFA Playoff 2. It’s a bit like musical chairs, but with a lot more running and a ticket to football immortality on the line.

Meanwhile, Europe’s qualification process is a maze worthy of a spy novel. Sixteen teams are split into four playoff paths—A, B, C, and D—each offering a single World Cup berth. Path A sees Italy battling Northern Ireland, while Wales faces Bosnia and Herzegovina. Path B throws Ukraine against Sweden and Poland against Albania. In Path C, Turkey meets Romania and Slovakia takes on Kosovo. Path D features Denmark versus North Macedonia and the Czech Republic against the Republic of Ireland. The winners from each path will slot into pre-determined groups. For instance, the Path A winner will join Group B alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland. The Path B winner heads to Group F, rubbing shoulders with the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia. The remaining playoff victors will find themselves up against heavyweights like the USA, Mexico, France, and Portugal, depending on their path. Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire! Those group placements will soon be clarified when the World Cup draw locks in the final tournament structure.

Circle March 26 on your calendar, because that’s when all UEFA and FIFA playoff semi-finals kick off. The finals, where dreams will be made or dashed, are set for March 31. Once the dust settles, we’ll finally know the full cast of World Cup contenders. From there, attention will quickly shift toward squad planning, including early projections for the USMNT roster.

So here we are, at the final hurdle. The last six teams for 2026 are about to be decided, and the world is watching. Let the games—and the drama—begin.