2026 World Cup Intercontinental Playoffs: Teams, Schedule, Bracket & Format
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time in history. Right now, 42 nations have already secured their spots. Six teams remain in contention through the intercontinental playoffs.
These playoffs will determine the final two World Cup qualifiers. The matches take place in March 2026 at venues in Mexico. The tournament kicks off just three months after these crucial playoff games.
Qualified Teams for Inter-Confederation Playoffs
Six teams qualified for the intercontinental playoffs through their respective continental competitions. The teams represent the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, OFC and CONCACAF confederations.
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking | Qualification Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | AFC | 60 | AFC playoff winner |
| DR Congo | CAF | 56 | CAF playoff winner |
| Jamaica | CONCACAF | 70 | Group runner-up |
| Bolivia | CONMEBOL | 76 | 7th place finish |
| Suriname | CONCACAF | 121 | Group runner-up |
| New Caledonia | OFC | 150 | Qualifying runner-up |
FIFA seeded the teams based on the November 19, 2025 World Rankings. The top two ranked teams received automatic places in the playoff finals.
Iraq ranked 60th and DR Congo ranked 56th, earning these seeded positions. They will face the winners of the semifinal matches in their respective paths.
Iraq secured their playoff spot with a dramatic victory over the UAE. Amir Al-Ammari scored a penalty in the 97th minute to seal the win. Iraq last appeared at the World Cup in 1986.
DR Congo defeated Nigeria on penalties in their CAF playoff on November 17, 2025. The match ended 4-3 in the shootout after a 1-1 aggregate draw. They last competed at the World Cup in 1974 as Zaire.
Jamaica finished as CONCACAF’s highest-ranked group runner-up. They qualified for the World Cup once before in 1998. Jamaica holds the strongest FIFA ranking among the unseeded playoff teams.
Bolivia finished seventh in CONMEBOL qualifying to claim their playoff spot. Their last World Cup appearance came in 1994. They face a challenging path through the intercontinental playoffs.
Suriname earned their place as CONCACAF’s second-ranked group runner-up. The nation has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup. They are ranked 121st in the latest FIFA rankings.
New Caledonia lost the OFC final to New Zealand but secured a playoff berth. The territory has a population of approximately 270,000. They would be among the smallest nations ever to reach the World Cup.
World Cup 2026 Intercontinental Playoffs Bracket
6 Teams • 2 Pathways • 2 World Cup Spots
Semi-Finals: March 23, 2026 | Finals: March 31, 2026 | Venue: Mexico
FIFA conducted the playoff draw on November 20, 2025 at their headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The draw created two separate playoff paths. Each path features three teams competing for one World Cup spot.
Path 1 Semifinal:
- Match: New Caledonia vs Jamaica
- Date: March 23, 2026
Path 1 Final:
- Match: DR Congo vs Semifinal winner
- Date: March 31, 2026
- Winner qualifies for 2026 World Cup
DR Congo received a bye directly to the final as the second-seeded team. The semifinal winner will face them for a World Cup berth. Jamaica enters as heavy favorites against New Caledonia based on FIFA rankings.
Path 2 Semifinal:
- Match: Bolivia vs Suriname
- Date: March 23, 2026
Path 2 Final:
- Match: Iraq vs Semifinal winner
- Date: March 31, 2026
- Winner qualifies for 2026 World Cup
Iraq earned the top seed and advances directly to their path’s final. They will face either Bolivia or Suriname. The Bolivia-Suriname semifinal presents a closer matchup than Path 1.
The draw separated the two CONCACAF teams into different paths. This ensures at least one CONCACAF nation can reach the World Cup through the playoffs.
Intercontinental Playoffs Schedule
The intercontinental playoffs take place during the March 2026 FIFA international window. All matches occur within eight days.
| Date | Stage | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2026 | Semifinal | New Caledonia vs Jamaica | Mexico TBA |
| March 23, 2026 | Semifinal | Bolivia vs Suriname | Mexico TBA |
| March 31, 2026 | Final | DR Congo vs SF winner | Mexico TBA |
| March 31, 2026 | Final | Iraq vs SF winner | Mexico TBA |
Mexico will host all playoff matches at two stadiums. FIFA selected Estadio BBVA in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara as the venues.
Estadio BBVA in Monterrey has a capacity of 53,500 and opened in 2015. The stadium is home to CF Monterrey and will also host 2026 World Cup matches.
Estadio Akron in Guadalajara holds 46,232 fans and opened in 2010. CD Guadalajara calls this venue home. The stadium will also serve as a 2026 World Cup venue.
The playoff finals conclude on March 31, 2026. The World Cup begins on June 11, 2026. Playoff winners will have approximately 10 weeks to prepare for the tournament.
The winners learn their group opponents at the December 5, 2025 draw in Washington D.C. They will be represented as placeholder teams during the draw ceremony.
Intercontinental Playoffs Format & Rules
The intercontinental playoffs feature six teams competing for two World Cup spots. FIFA divided the teams into two brackets of three teams each.
FIFA ranked the six teams using the November 19, 2025 World Rankings. The top two teams received automatic places in the finals. The four unseeded teams compete in semifinals. The two semifinal winners then face the seeded teams in the finals.
Every match is a single-leg knockout game. Teams play once at a neutral venue in Mexico. There are no home-and-away legs like in previous World Cup cycles.
Matches last 90 minutes plus stoppage time. The match proceeds to extra time if the score remains level after 90 minutes. Extra time consists of two 15-minute periods. Teams play the full 30 minutes regardless of whether a goal is scored.
Teams can make a sixth substitution during extra time. This comes in addition to the five substitutions allowed during regulation. The match goes to a penalty shootout if the score remains tied after extra time. Standard FIFA shootout rules apply. There are no replays or second chances.
FIFA switched to neutral-venue playoffs starting with the 2022 World Cup. Qatar hosted the 2022 playoffs. Mexico hosts the 2026 edition. The new format addresses concerns about travel and home advantage. All teams play on neutral ground and single-leg matches reduce travel demands.
Each confederation except UEFA receives one playoff spot. CONCACAF receives two spots as the host confederation. UEFA conducts its own 16-team playoff tournament for four remaining European spots.
FAQ – 2026 World Cup Intercontinental Playoffs
How many teams qualify from the intercontinental playoffs?
Two teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup through the intercontinental playoffs. Each of the two playoff paths awards one World Cup berth.
When do the intercontinental playoffs take place?
The intercontinental playoffs occur from March 23-31, 2026. Semifinals take place on March 23, 2026. Both finals happen on March 31, 2026.
Where will the intercontinental playoff matches be played?
All matches take place in Mexico at two venues. Estadio BBVA in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara will host the games.
Which teams are seeded in the playoffs?
Iraq ranked 60th and DR Congo ranked 56th received seeding based on the November 19, 2025 FIFA World Rankings. Both teams advance directly to the playoff finals.
What happens if a playoff match ends in a draw?
Drawn matches proceed to 30 minutes of extra time. The match goes to a penalty shootout if still tied. All matches are single-leg knockout games with no replays.
Why doesn’t UEFA participate in the intercontinental playoffs?
UEFA conducts a separate playoff tournament for European teams. Sixteen European nations compete for four remaining World Cup spots. Europe already receives the most World Cup places with 16 total spots.
