2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs: Schedule, Bracket and Results (Updated)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost full. Forty-two nations already have their tickets to North America. Six spots are still open. And the fight to grab those last six places is happening right now.
Twenty-two teams entered the playoffs on March 26. Ten lost and went home the same day. Twelve teams are still alive and they all play again on March 31. Every match is one game only. You lose and your World Cup dream is done.
This page has the full schedule with results from the March 26 semi-finals. You will also find bracket breakdowns for both the UEFA and Inter-Confederation playoffs plus a preview of every final on March 31.
Key Data at a Glance:
- Total Playoff Teams: 22 (16 UEFA + 6 Inter-Confederation)
- Spots Available: 6 World Cup spots (4 UEFA + 2 Inter-Confederation)
- Semi-Final Date: March 26, 2026 (Complete)
- Finals Date: March 31, 2026
- Match Format: Single-leg, extra time and penalties if level
- UEFA Playoff Venues: Various stadiums across Europe
- Inter-Conf Playoff Venues: Estadio Akron, Guadalajara (Pathway 1) and Estadio BBVA, Monterrey (Pathway 2)
- Seeded Teams (bye to final): DR Congo and Iraq
- World Cup Dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026
- World Cup Final: MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
2026 World Cup Playoff Full Schedule and Results
March 26, 2026 (Semi-Finals, All Complete)
| Competition | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Path A | Italy vs Northern Ireland | Bergamo (New Balance Arena) | Italy 2-0 (Tonali 56′, Kean 80′) |
| UEFA Path A | Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Cardiff City Stadium | Bosnia & Herz. advances (1-1 AET, 4-2 PKs) |
| UEFA Path B | Ukraine vs Sweden | Valencia, Spain (Estadi Ciutat de Valencia) | Sweden 3-1 (Gyokeres 6′, 51′, 73’pen; Ponomarenko 90′) |
| UEFA Path B | Poland vs Albania | Warsaw | Poland 2-1 (Lewandowski 63′, Zielinski 73′; Hoxha 42′) |
| UEFA Path C | Turkiye vs Romania | Istanbul | Turkiye 1-0 (Kadioglu 53′) |
| UEFA Path C | Slovakia vs Kosovo | Slovakia | Kosovo 4-3 |
| UEFA Path D | Denmark vs North Macedonia | Denmark | Denmark 4-0 (Isaksen x2) |
| UEFA Path D | Czechia vs Republic of Ireland | Prague (Fortuna Arena) | Czechia advances (2-2 AET, 4-3 PKs) |
| Inter-Conf Pathway 1 | New Caledonia vs Jamaica | Guadalajara (Estadio Akron) | Jamaica 1-0 (Cadamarteri) |
| Inter-Conf Pathway 2 | Bolivia vs Suriname | Monterrey (Estadio BBVA) | Bolivia 2-1 |
March 31, 2026 (Finals)
| Competition | Match | Venue | Time (ET) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Path A Final | Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy | Zenica, Bosnia | 2:45 PM | TBD |
| UEFA Path B Final | Sweden vs Poland | Solna, Sweden (Strawberry Arena) | 2:45 PM | TBD |
| UEFA Path C Final | Kosovo vs Turkiye | Pristina, Kosovo | 2:45 PM | TBD |
| UEFA Path D Final | Czechia vs Denmark | Prague, Czechia | 2:45 PM | TBD |
| Inter-Conf Pathway 1 Final | DR Congo vs Jamaica | Guadalajara (Estadio Akron) | 5:00 PM | TBD |
| Inter-Conf Pathway 2 Final | Iraq vs Bolivia | Monterrey (Estadio BBVA) | 11:00 PM | TBD |
All four UEFA finals kick off at the same time: 20:45 CEST which is 2:45 PM Eastern. The March 26 semi-finals started at 3:45 PM ET because Europe had not yet moved to summer time. Clocks went forward on March 29 so the finals are one hour earlier for US viewers.
Also Check: FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Fixtures
UEFA Playoffs: Bracket and Format
How the UEFA Playoffs Work
Europe has 16 spots at the 2026 World Cup. Twelve went to teams that won their qualifying groups between March and November 2025. The last four spots come from these playoffs.
Sixteen teams entered and FIFA split them into four paths: A, B, C and D. Each path has two semi-finals and one final. The team that wins the final in each path goes to the World Cup.
Twelve of these 16 teams finished as runners-up in their qualifying groups. The other four earned their spots through the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League. Those four are Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland. They were the best-ranked Nations League group winners who did not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group.
Higher-ranked teams hosted the semi-finals. A separate draw on November 20, 2025 at FIFA headquarters in Zurich decided which team hosts each final. Every match is a single game. A draw after 90 minutes means extra time and then penalties if needed. There is no away goals rule.
One important note about venues. Ukraine played their semi-final in Valencia, Spain at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia. FIFA required a neutral venue because of the ongoing conflict after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Inter-Confederation Playoffs: Bracket and Format
How the Inter-Confederation Playoffs Work
Six teams from five different confederations are fighting for two World Cup spots. FIFA split them into two pathways and all four matches take place in Mexico.
DR Congo from Africa and Iraq from Asia had the two highest FIFA rankings among these six teams. That earned them automatic byes straight to the finals. The other four teams had to play semi-finals first. Jamaica from CONCACAF faced New Caledonia from Oceania in Pathway 1. Bolivia from South America faced Suriname from CONCACAF in Pathway 2.
FIFA put Jamaica and Suriname in separate pathways on purpose. Both teams come from CONCACAF and the rules say no two teams from the same confederation can meet before a final.
Pathway 1 plays all its matches at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. Pathway 2 plays at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. Both stadiums will also host World Cup group stage matches in June.
Semi-Final Recap: What Happened on March 26
Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland (Path A)
Northern Ireland set up a tight 5-4-1 formation and made life very difficult for Italy in the first half. The crowd in Bergamo grew frustrated as the teams went to the break at 0-0. The second half told a different story. Isaac Price tried to clear a cross with a header but the ball dropped straight to Sandro Tonali. The Newcastle midfielder smashed a first-time half-volley from outside the box into the net in the 56th minute.
Moise Kean then sealed the win in the 80th minute. Tonali floated a ball over the defense and Kean controlled it, cut inside his defender and swept a left-footed shot in off the far post. Gennaro Gattuso’s squad now heads to Zenica to face Bosnia in the final. Italy have not played at a World Cup since 2014. They missed both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Wales 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Path A, Bosnia wins 4-2 on PKs)
Daniel James put Wales ahead with a stunning 51st-minute strike from long range. Wales looked set to reach the final until the 86th minute. That is when 40-year-old Edin Dzeko rose above the defense and headed home from a corner to make it 1-1.
Neither team could score in extra time. Bosnia then won the penalty shootout 4-2 after Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams both failed to convert for Wales. Bosnia now host Italy in the Path A final in Zenica.
Ukraine 1-3 Sweden (Path B)
Viktor Gyokeres put on one of the performances of the entire qualifying campaign. The striker scored a hat trick at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia in Spain where Ukraine had to play on neutral ground because of the Russian invasion. Gyokeres opened the scoring in the 6th minute after getting on the end of Benjamin Nygren’s cross.
He doubled the lead in the 51st minute by latching onto a long kick from goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt and finishing calmly. He then completed his hat trick from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. Matvii Ponomarenko headed in a 90th-minute consolation on his Ukraine debut but it was far too late. Sweden had collected just two points from six group matches during qualifying. This was their first win of the entire campaign. Manager Graham Potter called it “a huge step forward for the team.”
Poland 2-1 Albania (Path B)
Albania stunned the home crowd in Warsaw. Arber Hoxha pounced on a Jan Bednarek error in the 42nd minute and rounded the goalkeeper to score. Poland trailed at half-time and the pressure was enormous. Robert Lewandowski answered in the 63rd minute with a header at the back post from a corner. It was his 89th international goal. Ten minutes later Piotr Zielinski found space 25 yards out and drilled a dipping strike into the far corner. Poland held on for a 2-1 win. The stage is now set for Gyokeres vs Lewandowski in Solna on March 31.
Turkiye 1-0 Romania (Path C)
A tight and tense match in Istanbul stayed goalless until the 53rd minute. Real Madrid’s Arda Guler played a sharp pass to Ferdi Kadioglu who finished to give Turkiye the win. Turkiye have not played at a World Cup since their famous third-place finish in 2002. They are now one game away from ending a 24-year wait.
Slovakia 3-4 Kosovo (Path C)
This was the wildest match of the day. Seven goals flew in as Kosovo came from behind twice to beat Slovakia 4-3. The result keeps alive Kosovo’s dream of reaching a first ever World Cup. They now host Turkiye in Pristina on March 31.
Denmark 4-0 North Macedonia (Path D)
Denmark delivered the most dominant performance of the entire semi-final round. Gustav Isaksen scored twice in just two minutes and the Danes cruised home 4-0 without ever looking troubled.
Czechia 2-2 Republic of Ireland (Path D, Czechia wins 4-3 on PKs)
Ireland took an early 2-0 lead and looked in complete control. Czechia fought back and leveled the score before the end of normal time. The match went to extra time and then penalties. Jan Kliment scored the decisive spot kick as Czechia advanced 4-3 in the shootout at Prague’s Fortuna Arena.
New Caledonia 0-1 Jamaica (Pathway 1)
Jamaica came in as heavy favorites but struggled to break down New Caledonia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. Bailey Cadamarteri scored the only goal of the match after a goalkeeper deflection. Jamaica had 12 shots with 5 on target but could not add to their lead.
New Caledonia had a population under 300,000 and are ranked 150th in the world by FIFA. Despite the narrow scoreline Jamaica never really looked in danger. They now face DR Congo on March 31 for a World Cup spot. Jamaica last played at a World Cup in 1998. That is a 28-year wait that could end next week.
Bolivia 2-1 Suriname (Pathway 2)
Bolivia got past Suriname 2-1 at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. It was a competitive match but Bolivia held on to set up a final against Iraq on March 31.
March 31 Playoff Finals Preview
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy (Path A, Zenica)
Italy are the clear favorites based on squad quality. But they have to travel to Zenica and play in front of a loud Bosnian home crowd. Tonali and Kean proved in the semi-final that this team has the talent to get the job done. Bosnia are riding high after their penalty win over Wales and will believe anything is possible with Dzeko leading the line.
Sweden vs Poland (Path B, Solna)
This is the tightest of all six finals. Gyokeres scored a hat trick against Ukraine. Lewandowski led Poland’s comeback against Albania. Sweden play at home in the Strawberry Arena which gives them an edge. Lewandowski is 37 years old and this might be his last shot at a World Cup. Sweden have not reached the tournament since 2018. One of these two star strikers will have their dream end on Tuesday night.
Kosovo vs Turkiye (Path C, Pristina)
Kosovo are playing for something bigger than just football. A win would send them to their first ever World Cup. Turkiye have Arda Guler and Kadioglu leading their attack and most experts pick them as favorites. But a packed crowd in Pristina will make this an incredibly tough place to play. Kosovo already showed against Slovakia that they can score against anyone.
Czechia vs Denmark (Path D, Prague)
Denmark were the best team of semi-final day after crushing North Macedonia 4-0. Czechia barely survived their shootout against Ireland. Czechia do have home advantage again in Prague but Denmark’s form and depth make them the slight favorites here.
DR Congo vs Jamaica (Pathway 1, Guadalajara)
DR Congo skipped the semi-final because of their seeded bye. They will be well rested but have not played a competitive match in this window. Jamaica’s 1-0 win over New Caledonia was not pretty but they got through. Several of Jamaica’s players compete in top European leagues which gives them real quality. Andre Blake in goal is one of the best keepers in MLS and will be key.
Iraq vs Bolivia (Pathway 2, Monterrey)
The winner of this match walks into the toughest group at the World Cup: Group I with France, Senegal and Norway. Iraq also had a bye and will be fresh for this final. Bolivia come in with match sharpness after beating Suriname. They also spent the entire South American qualifying campaign playing against Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. That kind of experience against elite teams could help them here.
2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs FAQs
Can Italy still qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the Path A semi-final. They now face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica on March 31 for a World Cup spot.
Did Viktor Gyokeres score a hat trick against Ukraine?
Yes. Gyokeres scored three goals (6′, 51′, 73′ penalty) as Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1 in Valencia. It was Sweden’s first win of their entire qualifying campaign.
Which teams were eliminated in the semi-finals?
Ten teams went home: Northern Ireland, Wales, Ukraine, Albania, Romania, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Republic of Ireland, New Caledonia and Suriname. The losing UEFA semi-finalists from each path will play a friendly against each other on finals day.
What happens to teams that lose in the finals?
They are out. No third-place match. No second chance. Lose one game and it is over.
When does the 2026 World Cup start?
June 11, 2026 in Mexico City. The final is July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. Sixteen host cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Six finals on March 31 will decide the last six World Cup spots. Italy, Sweden, Turkiye, Denmark, DR Congo and Jamaica go in as favorites. But Kosovo, Poland, Bosnia, Czechia, Bolivia and Iraq all have real reasons to believe they can pull off something special. Come back to this page on Tuesday for live results as every final plays out.
