The final European qualifying picture for the 2026 World Cup is coming into focus, with the path for 16 nations set to be determined in a crucial play-off draw. For the Republic of Ireland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the draw represents their last chance to secure a coveted spot in the expanded tournament.
The Road to the World Cup
The tension is palpable for several home nations after the conclusion of the main qualifying groups. While the group winners have booked their tickets automatically, the battle for the remaining European slots now moves to a nail-biting play-off stage. Twelve group runners-up will be joined by four teams who earned a second chance through their Nations League performance, creating a 16-team knockout tournament.
The Republic of Ireland sealed their place as group runners-up in dramatic fashion, thanks to a stunning last-minute winner from Troy Parrott against Hungary. This crucial victory behind group winners Portugal kept their World Cup dreams alive. Wales and Northern Ireland have also successfully booked their spots in the play-offs, ensuring significant British and Irish interest in the proceedings.
Play-Off Format and Key Details
The play-offs will be contested as single-leg knockout matches, adding to the high-stakes drama. The 16 teams will be drawn into four separate paths, each containing four teams. This means every nation is just two victories away from qualifying for the World Cup, navigating a semi-final and then a final in their respective path.
The Uefa play-off draw will take place on Thursday 20 November at 12pm GMT. The matches themselves are scheduled for March 2026, with the semi-finals on 26 March and the path finals on 31 March.
Confirmed Teams and Pot Allocation
The 16 teams have been confirmed and divided into four pots based on a combination of qualifying status and FIFA rankings.
Pot 1 contains the highest-ranked runners-up: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Pot 2 features: Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Pot 3 includes: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo.
Pot 4 is reserved for the Nations League qualifiers: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, and Northern Ireland.
How the Draw Will Work
The draw mechanics are designed to create balanced paths. Each of the four play-off paths will feature one team from Pot 1, one from Pot 2, one from Pot 3, and one from Pot 4. The semi-final matchups are pre-determined: the Pot 1 team will face the Pot 4 team, and the Pot 2 team will face the Pot 3 team. In these semi-finals, the Pot 1 and Pot 2 teams will enjoy home advantage.
The two semi-final winners from each path will then meet in a final, with the home advantage for that decisive match being decided during the initial draw. The winner of each path's final qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.
In a separate but related event, the inter-continental play-off draw will also be held on Thursday 20 November. This will involve six teams from other confederations, with the top two ranked sides receiving a bye to the final qualifying round.
Looking further ahead, the full World Cup 2026 group stage draw is scheduled for 5 December at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, where the final 48-team lineup will begin to take shape.
