Word Cup playoffs set with Italy handed comfortable pathway, Denmark & Sweden learn fate

Pat Dempsey

Updated

Gianni Infantino (left) and Italian former player Marco Materazzi pose with the FIFA World Cup trophy in front of the results of the drawFABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

There are six spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals to be determined by the playoff competitions - the European and inter-confederational tournaments - with both to be held in March. The draws for both playoffs were made in Switzerland on Thursday. Find out who is playing who for a spot at the finals below!

The headline news from the European draw was that heavyweights Italy were handed a relatively kind route to the finals, but they will not have home advantage in their playoff final.

Denmark are facing a potentially tricky away final as well, while Sweden will have home advantage in their decider if they beat Ukraine away from home in the semi-finals.

In the FIFA Play-Off Tournament, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq await in the two finals, having received semi-final byes as the seeded nations. The results of both draws are listed below.

European Play-Off Tournament

The European Play-Off Tournament involves four pathways, each a bracket of four nations competing in semi-finals and a final, all of which are one-legged affairs.

Home advantage for the semi-finals was based on seedings, but via a draw for the finals. The four winners of each pathway qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The semi-finals will take place on March 26th, with the final matches on March 31st.

Play-off Path A

Semi-final 1: Italy vs Northern Ireland

Semi-final 2: Wales vs Bosnia & Herzegovina

Final A: Winners of 2 (home team) vs Winners of 1

Play-off Path B

Semi-final 3: Ukraine vs Sweden

Semi-final 4: Poland vs Albania

Final B: Winners of 3 (home team) vs Winners of 4

Play-off Path C

Semi-final 5: Turkey vs Romania

Semi-final 6: Slovakia vs Kosovo

Final C: Winners of 6 (home team) vs Winners of 5

Play-off Path D

Semi-final 7: Denmark vs North Macedonia

Semi-final 8: Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland

Final D: Winners of 8 (home team) vs Winners of 7

How do the European Play-Offs work? Here's everything you need to know!

FIFA Play-Off Tournament

The FIFA Play-Off Tournament will be held entirely in Mexico in March and involves six nations, all from non-UEFA confederations. There are two pathways, each involving one semi-final and a final.

The two highest-ranked nations in the tournament received a bye to the finals; the two semi-finals will determine who else features in the finals. The two final winners go to the World Cup.

The dates and times of the fixtures are yet to be determined, but they will all be in March 2026, staged in Guadalajara and Monterrey.