The draw for the European play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take place on November 20, 2023, at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Starting at 13:00 CET, this important event will establish the matchups for the semi-finals and the subsequent final matches.
Teams Participating in the European Play-Offs
Sixteen teams will compete in the European play-offs, comprising 12 runners-up from the group stage of the European Qualifiers and four teams qualified through the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League.
Confirmed Teams
- Group Runners-Up: Albania, Czechia, Italy, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Ukraine
- Nations League Qualifiers: Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland
- Pending Team: Either North Macedonia or Wales will occupy the last slot based on their finishing position in Group J
The ranking of the four additional teams is determined by the interim overall 2024/25 Nations League standings, prioritizing the highest-ranked group winners that have not qualified directly as group winners.
Direct Qualifications for the World Cup
A total of 16 European teams will compete in the tournament. This includes the four winners from the play-offs, joining the 12 teams that have already qualified directly:
- Croatia
- England
- France
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
Format of the European Play-Offs
The play-offs will utilize a single-leg knockout format. Each play-off path consists of two semi-finals, featuring one seeded and one unseeded team. The seeded teams are positioned to host their semi-finals.
Match Dates
- Semi-Finals: March 26, 2026
- Finals: March 31, 2026
Determining the Draw Pots
Following the finalization of the 16 participants, the runners-up will be ranked according to the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings. This will classify the teams into four pots:
- Pot 1: Top-seeded teams ranked 1 to 4
- Pot 2: Seeded teams ranked 5 to 8
- Pot 3: Unseeded teams ranked 9 to 12
- Pot 4: Unseeded Nations League teams ranked 13 to 16
The Draw Process
The draw will proceed by utilizing the four pots in a specific order. The allocation takes place as follows:
- Pot 1: Teams are assigned to semi-finals 1, 3, 5, and 7.
- Pot 2: Teams are placed in the first available positions in semi-finals 2, 4, 6, and 8.
- Pot 3: Unseeded teams occupy the next available spots in semi-finals 2, 4, 6, and 8.
- Pot 4: Unseeded Nations League teams fill the next slots in semi-finals 1, 3, 5, and 7.
This structured approach ensures a fair and organized selection process for the European play-off matchups in the quest for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
