Wales has secured its spot in the World Cup 2026 play-offs, set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a semi-final match. This one-legged clash will take place at home, providing an advantage to the Welsh team. Craig Bellamy’s squad finished second in qualifying Group J, trailing only Belgium.
Potential Final Opponents for Wales
If Wales emerges victorious, they will host the winner of the match between Italy and Northern Ireland in the final. Northern Ireland has qualified through the Nations League and faces a challenging away match against Italy.
Republic of Ireland’s Semi-Final Match
The Republic of Ireland also made headlines by securing their play-off spot with a last-minute win over Hungary. They will face the Czech Republic in their semi-final match. The winner of that contest will host either Denmark or North Macedonia in the final.
Match Schedule
- Semi-finals: March 26
- Finals: March 31
Kick-off times for the matches will be at either 5 PM or 7:45 PM. The victors of the four play-off finals will earn qualification for the World Cup, rounding out the 16 European slots available.
World Cup Play-off Paths
| Path | Semi-final A | Semi-final B | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Italy vs Northern Ireland | Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy/Northern Ireland |
| B | Ukraine vs Sweden | Poland vs Albania | Ukraine/Sweden vs Poland/Albania |
| C | Turkey vs Romania | Slovakia vs Kosovo | Slovakia/Kosovo vs Turkey/Romania |
| D | Denmark vs North Macedonia | Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland | Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland vs Denmark/North Macedonia |
Inter-Confederation Play-offs
Jamaica, which did not secure automatic qualification, will face New Caledonia. The winner will go on to play against the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a World Cup spot. Additionally, Bolivia and Suriname will compete for the opportunity to face Iraq.
Current Qualification Status
As of now, 42 teams have qualified for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, contributing to an exciting build-up for the tournament.
